Featured artists at the Cape May Artists’ Cooperative Gallery for the month of June are fine art photographer Christine Peck and stained glass artist Christopher Michalek. A “meet the artists” reception will be held at the gallery at 122 Sunset Blvd., West Cape May, on June 10 from 2 to 4 p.m.
The award-winning photographs of Christine Peck, a local optician, are her personal visual expressions of the world around her. Her collection includes images of Southern New Jersey, New England, Savannah, California, Colorado, the Caribbean, France and Italy.
Born and raised in South Jersey, she was introduced to photography in high school and went on to study fine arts at Glassboro State College. More recently, Christine has studied with professional photographer Nancy Ori of Berkley Heights, N.J., and photographer and author Andrew Darlow. It has become her lifelong pursuit to capture the images around her and reproduce them in an artistic photographic form. Christine uses black and white photography to enhance details, while her color photography captures the broad spectrum of nature. Finding an interesting and different perspective is a constant goal. High Dynamic Range is one of the many types of digital technology she is currently using.
Christopher Michalek finds inspiration for his stained glass pieces in his travels and the world and artists around him. His interest in stained glass began early, first kindled when he walked into a church with his grandfather as a child and was dazzled by the rainbow of colors around him. While he has always been creative, and has tried exploring various mediums, it was not until his father, also an artist, introduced him to the process of creating stained glass that he became comfortable with the medium and began to express himself as an artist. Now Chris creates both small and large scale pieces, frequently calling on his love for the sea for inspiration. Mermaids are a particular fascination. Chris frequently works on large pieces as commissions. The windows of the Cape May Artists’ Cooperative Gallery glow with his works.
The Cape May Artists’ Cooperative Gallery is the only artists’ cooperative in Cape May County. Owned and operated by its 15 members, it carries a full selection of members’ work, including original paintings and photography and prints, jewelry, stained and fused glass, works in wood, clay and works in paper, fiber arts, found art pieces and collage. The Gallery is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Credit cards are accepted. Parking is available behind the gallery. For information regarding shows, classes, membership and events, call (609) 435-5253 or visit capemayartistcoop.com.