Jack Devine will be the first one to tell you he is not an artist. At least not in the conventional sense. The case can certainly be made, however, that Devine’s leadership of the Ocean City Arts Center Board of Directors is an art form in its own right.
“Jack works so hard and puts such passion into everything he does for the Center,” Executive Director Rosalyn Lifshin said. “It is a volunteer position. He isn’t being paid, and yet he treats it as if it were a fulltime job.”
Devine and the Center recently passed milestone years. Jack is now in his 21
st year as Board President (and 24
th as a Board member) and the Arts Center itself is currently in its 51
st year. He is self-taught and never studied art. “But I do think I have a good eye for it” he says, and for what connects with his hometown community.
You could say the Center is in Devine’s blood. His late mother, Ruth, was one of the original founders and Vice President of the Board of Trustees for 10 years.
An outgrowth of a successful boardwalk art show, the Arts Center was initially housed in a former school building at 409 Wesley Rd. It later relocated to a building on 35
th St., and finally settled in 1990 in the current digs in the Community Center at 1735 Simpson Ave.
“I have to thank the City for its support over the years,” Devine said. “We have the use of a magnificent building, a stipend, and complete autonomy. We are extremely fortunate.”
In addition to his role heading the Board of Trustees, Jack is responsible for the 12 gallery exhibitions each year. That task, which he has been handling for more than adecade, requires the most work, he said, but it is also the most fun and most rewarding.
“Jack is really up on the art scene not only locally but also in New York and Philadelphia,” said Lifshin. “He takes the time to read all the media notices and he checks a lot of shows out. As a result, we are able to offer exhibits right here in Ocean City that one would expect to find at a big city gallery.”
Just as important, Devine says, are the exhibits by local artists.
“That is one of the most rewarding aspects, especially the one-person shows.” he said. “We are able to provide opportunities for new artists, many of whom are exhibiting for the first time. It allows the artist to step away from the studio and put his work out there for display and for criticism. I am proud we have helped many artists to become established that way.”
One of Devine’s creative touches is to put themed shows together. When the old 9
th St., Bridge was slated for demolition, a local artist submitted some pen and ink works that were quite good, but not large enough in number to fill the gallery. Jack invited other local artists to submit works depicting the bridge. The show proved to be quite successful and served as a beautiful sendoff for the old landmark structure.
Other themed shows involved the vanishing seashore cottage, depictions of the small homes that used to dominate Ocean City and the surrounding communities; and a show featuring three generations of an artistic family.
Jack said his most risky theme was “I remember Wanamakers,” a homage to the venerable Philadelphia department store.
“When we sent the call out for entries, so few initially responded I was worried we might not have a show,” he said. As it turned out, the artistic community came through with a show Devine termed “absolutely heartwarming.”
One of his favorite shows was Hammonton photographer Kevin Husta’s exhibit of haunting images from the SS United States, a rusting landmark cruise ship currently docked in South Philadelphia as it awaits possible redevelopment.
When he isn’t working on behalf of the Arts Center, Jack is teaching at Stockton University as an adjunct professor of Historical Studies. He incorporates his love of art with his classes. “I use art to help bring the history to life for the students,” he said.
Jack attended St. Augustine School, St. Augustine Prep and Johns Hopkins University where he earned three degrees, including his doctorate.
“Jack is highly educated and he is a lot of fun to be around and to work with,” said Lifshin. “He has a dry, intelligent sense of humor, and sometimes when we are working together we just laugh and laugh.”
