By Andrea K. Hammer

On a steamy night, convention goers and other visitors enjoyed cool relaxation in the lobby on the main floor of the elegant but comfortable Seaview Hotel in New Jersey. The hotel, in a leading model of arts and business partnerships, was simultaneously providing space to the Noyes Museum of Art and the Absecon Cultural Arts Alliance (ACCA) on the lower level.

Tucked in a back corner, dedicated arts lovers enjoyed the opening reception for a gallery exhibit, where they had the opportunity to discover the work of three talented local artists. As they listened to live music and sampled refreshments, visitors chatted with artists Linda Lauria, G. Matthew Dixon and Eva T. Baranowski. With a rare chance to ask the artists about their work in person, those attending the opening reception of the exhibit found many of the nature-inspired pieces particularly captivating.

G. Matthew Dixon, a South Jersey-based artist, designer and senior adjunct professor of graphic design and art at Atlantic Cape Community College, warmly introduced himself to a couple examining some of his landscapes with interest. When asked how he creates a misty effect in several of them, the artist discussed his layering technique. Dixon, who is also president of the ACAA, works with pastels, pen and ink as well as egg tempera as he captures shifting perception and distance in works including Soft Morning and Sky Path Through the Salt Marsh.

The colorful mosaic scenes by Linda Lauria prompted visitors to pause and marvel over her intricate work such as Autumn Symphony. As a multidisciplinary artist who is also an ACAA board member, the artist also works with pastels, watercolor, clay and textiles to express different ideas in various ways. Earning numerous awards, Lauria has exhibited work through the region, achieving her goal of inspiring connection and reflection in viewers.

With a degree in biology and an eye for detail evident in work including Fall Leaves, Eva T. Baranowski studied botanical illustration through the Philadelphia Horticultural Society. Developing skills in watercolor painting, Baranowski expresses the beauty of nature through her scientific training. By balancing careful observation with creativity, this artist succeeds in conveying a sense of awe in the natural world.

To learn more about the artwork for sale, inquire at the front desk at the Seaview Hotel or contact the Noyes Museum of Art.