Life,Art and Charity
Life, Art and Charity
By Jackie O’Neal
Phyllis London, based in Egg Harbor Township specializes in watercolor landscapes, seascapes and portraits as well as philanthropic efforts to help the community. Now she ruminates about her watercolor class at Charter Tech High School in Somer’s Point. “The class represents a variety of people- a school principal, a muralist, a retired police officer, an interior designer and a Shore Memorial Hospital nurse. London is delighted to be teaching. “Teaching is a way of giving back”, she said. Suffice it to say, giving back is what London is all about. Perhaps it is no accident that a nurse from Shore Memorial is drawn to London’s watercolor class. In 2004, The Accent Gallery in Ocean City donated the proceeds from the sale of London’s artwork to Shore Memorial’s Cancer Care center in Somer’s point.
London, an ethereal, soft-spoken woman credits her mother as the force behind her community-mindedness. “It started with my mother. She always donated her time as well as being a great painter. I have that imprinted in me”, she said.
London, a breast-cancer survivor received treatment at Virtua Memorial hospital in Mount Holly. In 2003, she was featured in an exhibit at their Pavillion Gallery “The Art of Appreciation”. A portion of the proceeds was used to raise funds for their Cancer program. “I wanted to say thanks to the doctors and nurses who treated me and everybody who helped. I spearheaded the exhibit for patients and caregivers who were affected by cancer”, she noted. In addition, she collaborated with Christina Perillo, Emmy-award winning host of “Christina Cooks” featured on the Discovery health network, who donated her illustrations to the exhibit.
Apart from fundraising efforts with local hospitals, London participates in raising money for Make-A-Wish Foundation. “I know the money from the sale of my work goes straight to them- 100% of it”, she said.
London’s philosophy of life is a s impressive as her art. “No matter what you’re circumstances, whether it is cancer, a bad relationship or job- you can move on and still have a productive life. You don’t need to let obstacles stop you from your ability to contribute to society”, she noted.
An artist who finds the South Jersey area a great boost to her creativity, she often enjoys observing the seasons as a source of inspiration. “I love being close to the beach and observing the changing seasons- the contrasts. Contrasts are a great tool for the artist and are sobering”, she said.
Always seeking to contribute her art to raise money for causes, she is planning to donate one of her paintings to the Heart Cup Ball, an annual fundraiser sponsored by the Ocean City yacht club. It’s not surprising she is drawn to the sea and boats, she grew up working in the family business with her uncle, renowned yacht designer John Cherubini and her father, master carpenter, Joseph Cherubini.
Currently, London is donating her time illustrating a cookbook for the A.J. Meerwald Bayshore Discovery Project, an organization that educates children on boating and Oyster harvesting.
The wall spaces in her cozy Egg Harbor township home are festooned with her bold art work. She appears serene as she discusses future projects such as High Street Design, a gallery in Millville about fifty minutes from her home, asked her to teach a watercolor class. London is excited. “There is a renaissance going on there. You don’t generally think of South Jersey as being a thriving artist’s community”, she said. It appears Millville has changed that perception with new galleries having opened up drawing crowds, London explained. “I really want to be part of that scene”, she said.
By Jackie O’Neal
Phyllis London, based in Egg Harbor Township specializes in watercolor landscapes, seascapes and portraits as well as philanthropic efforts to help the community. Now she ruminates about her watercolor class at Charter Tech High School in Somer’s Point. “The class represents a variety of people- a school principal, a muralist, a retired police officer, an interior designer and a Shore Memorial Hospital nurse. London is delighted to be teaching. “Teaching is a way of giving back”, she said. Suffice it to say, giving back is what London is all about. Perhaps it is no accident that a nurse from Shore Memorial is drawn to London’s watercolor class. In 2004, The Accent Gallery in Ocean City donated the proceeds from the sale of London’s artwork to Shore Memorial’s Cancer Care center in Somer’s point.
London, an ethereal, soft-spoken woman credits her mother as the force behind her community-mindedness. “It started with my mother. She always donated her time as well as being a great painter. I have that imprinted in me”, she said.
London, a breast-cancer survivor received treatment at Virtua Memorial hospital in Mount Holly. In 2003, she was featured in an exhibit at their Pavillion Gallery “The Art of Appreciation”. A portion of the proceeds was used to raise funds for their Cancer program. “I wanted to say thanks to the doctors and nurses who treated me and everybody who helped. I spearheaded the exhibit for patients and caregivers who were affected by cancer”, she noted. In addition, she collaborated with Christina Perillo, Emmy-award winning host of “Christina Cooks” featured on the Discovery health network, who donated her illustrations to the exhibit.
Apart from fundraising efforts with local hospitals, London participates in raising money for Make-A-Wish Foundation. “I know the money from the sale of my work goes straight to them- 100% of it”, she said.
London’s philosophy of life is a s impressive as her art. “No matter what you’re circumstances, whether it is cancer, a bad relationship or job- you can move on and still have a productive life. You don’t need to let obstacles stop you from your ability to contribute to society”, she noted.
An artist who finds the South Jersey area a great boost to her creativity, she often enjoys observing the seasons as a source of inspiration. “I love being close to the beach and observing the changing seasons- the contrasts. Contrasts are a great tool for the artist and are sobering”, she said.
Always seeking to contribute her art to raise money for causes, she is planning to donate one of her paintings to the Heart Cup Ball, an annual fundraiser sponsored by the Ocean City yacht club. It’s not surprising she is drawn to the sea and boats, she grew up working in the family business with her uncle, renowned yacht designer John Cherubini and her father, master carpenter, Joseph Cherubini.
Currently, London is donating her time illustrating a cookbook for the A.J. Meerwald Bayshore Discovery Project, an organization that educates children on boating and Oyster harvesting.
The wall spaces in her cozy Egg Harbor township home are festooned with her bold art work. She appears serene as she discusses future projects such as High Street Design, a gallery in Millville about fifty minutes from her home, asked her to teach a watercolor class. London is excited. “There is a renaissance going on there. You don’t generally think of South Jersey as being a thriving artist’s community”, she said. It appears Millville has changed that perception with new galleries having opened up drawing crowds, London explained. “I really want to be part of that scene”, she said.
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