MariahDuffey Real Estate Professional

08/27/2026

One reason I love to live here is the art and music scene. Continue to follow me as I interview and promote the creatives who help shape our towns.

I had the BEST time sitting with Suzanne Hunter - Owner of the Sea Glass Grotto, Jeweler, Artist, & Festival Organizer.

The Story Behind the Festivals

Suzanne Hunter's relationship with community festivals goes back years. Before she became an organizer, she traveled the country as a vendor exhibiting her own jewelry.

"Festivals, craft fairs, and bazaars bring a unique, vibrant energy to our communities. Today, it is a rare privilege to connect directly with the artists whose creations bring us joy."

Like many artists, her perspective shifted after spending over a decade on the road. A few short years ago, she wanted an opportunity to stay local while still supporting the creative community. Her inspiration struck while attending Seafarers Weekend at Cold Spring Village on Route 9 as a vendor. Swept up in the fanfare of families, pirates, and community fun, she saw the venue's potential.

"I was able to see the potential of holding a festival there of my own. And, it was a success!"

Her first event, the Jersey Cape Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival, a beach-themed festival held on Mother’s Day weekend, brought in 50 artists and attracted 2,600 attendees. This past year, it expanded to 80 artists, featuring sea glass jewelers, coastal photographers, and beach-themed painters. It has officially become the largest onsite annual event at Cold Spring Village.

Playing the Long Game

With Hunter at the helm, her festivals operate with a clear mission of establishing lasting community traditions rather than immediate financial gain.

"I'm not really drawing any money out of it for myself yet. Just because I want to get a foothold. I want to get these established. I want people—both the artists and the patrons—to look forward to them and keep coming back every year."

She believes one of the festival’s greatest strengths is introducing collectors to independent creators and watching those relationships develop over time.

"To see their favorite artists or to discover new ones, you know, and say, 'Oh my God, I love that painting and I want to follow them and see their progression.' Because artists progress, too. We don't want to keep doing the same thing over and over again for the rest of our lives."

A Tale of Two Worlds

Because of her own exhibition history, Hunter balances a massive professional network. As a sea glass artist for the last 16 years, she has traveled the country's elite circuit, spanning the Eastern Seaboard, Ohio, and California. As a former board member of the International Sea Glass Association, she helped navigate major festivals like the one in Mystic, Connecticut, which drew over 10,000 attendees.

Managing her own local events means communicating with over 150 applicants to secure a final roster of 80+ artists. Interestingly, she has to balance two completely different organizational styles. With her tight-knit sea glass community, her communications are deeply personal and humorous.

"My emails that I send out are a little funny, a little snarky. I talk about, like, you know, if you don't use proper weights when you're tenting, then the grumpy guy's gonna get you. Or tell them that there's no chance of vampires, so no staking in the historic ground is allowed."

Nevertheless, when managing significant juried events such as her revitalization of the 50-year-old Stone Harbor Arts and Crafts Festival, she upholds a firm professional boundary. This year, the festival has been renamed to Jersey Cape Festival of Fine Craft at Stone Harbor to represent the quality of the vendors participating.

"It's two different worlds that I'm juggling. I feel like I can't cross that... what is it? The fourth wall? Like where they talk to the camera. I'm afraid to break it because these artists are just so different."

Regardless of the venue, she believes there is plenty of room for everyone to succeed.

"Probably 70% of the people who attend the regular craft fairs or shows that I do pass by my booth because they're not interested in jewelry. One set of customers is not the other. Nobody's stealing customers from anybody. There's plenty to go around. And there's so much more to be said about a business that supports the arts, the artists, and handcrafters, and spreads that wealth around."

Weathered Shards and Childhood Memories

Much of Hunter's own artwork through her business, The Sea Glass Grotto, explores the intersection of coastal history and personal memory.

Her relationship with the shoreline began during childhood summers spent at her grandparents' home in North Wildwood. Walking the beaches with her grandmother, she fell in love with collecting sea glass. As a child, she intuitively began creating her earliest jewelry pieces by wrapping those found beach treasures with telephone wire sourced from her father, along with paper beads and string.

"You have to know the art form to be able to stretch its limits. It still has to evoke something, and then, like, it still has to be meaningful."

Her modern jewelry designs are rooted in authenticity. As a silversmith, she builds custom settings using sterling silver, fine silver, and natural semi-precious gemstones to perfectly complement her ocean-tumbled components. A massive part of her professional identity is utilizing exclusively genuine, jewelry-grade sea glass, often educating consumers on the differences between naturally weathered beach glass and artificial replicas.

Because her childhood finds are inextricably linked to memories of her family, she frequently partners directly with fellow beachcombers, transforming their personal, sentimentally significant shoreline finds into custom heirloom pendants, rings, and bracelets.

Embracing the Process and New Tools

Creating art and managing events is rarely straightforward, and Hunter believes in adapting as the landscape evolves.

"You definitely have to pick up new technology when it's out there. I know so many photographers who are taking their photography and editing it digitally to come up with just incredible work. Some people would be like, 'Oh, it's edited,' but that's also an art form. It's learning how to be able to manipulate your own exposures."

For Hunter, whether dealing with the logistics of a festival or the fine details of silversmithing, the goal remains the same: fostering a community that proudly values the handmade.

Her next event is this weekend:
August 29 & 30, 2026
Jersey Cape Festival Of Fine Craft at Stone Harbor
8100 2nd Ave
Stone Harbor, NJ

Hope to see you there!

08/02/2026

PTO just approved? 111 Leaming Ave, West Cape May is available the last week full week of August!

Availability: Saturday, August 22 - 29, 2026
4 Bedrooms
2 Baths
10 Guests
Pet Free
Rental Fee: $2,975.00

Contact me for additional information or to book!

Email: [email protected]
Call or Text: 609-602-9839

07/26/2026

Just Listed!
1101 Wissahickon Ave, Lower Township, NJ 08204
2 Bedroom/2 Baths
Spicer's Creek Water Views with a Pool!!
Connect with me for a showing
📞 609-602-9839
⌨️ [email protected]

Welcome to 1101 Wissahickon Avenue, a magical private oasis tucked away in the peaceful enclave of Schellenger's Landing on Spicer’s Creek. Situated on a generous 100' x 100' lot, this one of a kind 2 bedroom, 2 bath home offers breathtaking water views, exceptional privacy, and a lifestyle immers...

07/23/2026

One of the reasons I love to live here is the art and music scene. Continue to follow me as I interview and promote the creatives who help shape our towns.

For my next spotlight, I sat down with Victor Grasso, a renowned local artist and the owner of the Jawbone Gallery in Cape May, to discuss his surreal work and his impact on our community's cultural landscape.

Jawbone Gallery 31 Perry Street, No. 9, Cape May, NJ. NEXT EVENT: 7/23, Artist reception for Megan Whitfield!

Let's jump right in...

Victor Grasso
Owner, Jawbone Gallery | Artist

The Story Behind Jawbone Gallery
Victor Grasso's relationship with the gallery space goes back years. Before it became Jawbone Gallery, it was known as SOMA Gallery, where he exhibited his own work. "It was really something special back in the day, and we were building it into something amazing."
Like many businesses, the pandemic changed everything. In 2020, Grasso stepped away from the gallery and began exhibiting exclusively in New York and Philadelphia, where galleries represented both his work and artistic vision.

In 2023, the owners of SOMA Gallery approached him about taking over the space.

Initially, he declined. The space was a little too big with two large rooms flanking either side of the hallway. He continued searching for another location on the island while discussing possibilities with investors. Eventually, he returned to the former SOMA space, after it had been renovated and divided into smaller, more manageable areas. "I saw all the renovations and said, 'Leave the lights, and I'll take it.'"

Grasso credits the building owners for making the transition possible. He always maintained a close relationship with them. They are supporters of the arts and everything worked out in the end.

Jawbone Gallery
With Grasso at the helm, the gallery operates with the clear mission of excellence in craft, as well as a strong tie to history. He wants to reconnect Cape May with its rich artistic heritage. Pointing to the region's connections with artists including Thomas Eakins, Howard Pyle, the Wyeth family, and even Norman Rockwell.

"There's a huge history that's been forgotten, and I wanted to bring that back."

At the same time, he isn't interested in creating a gallery that only looks backward. Many of the artists he invites are contemporary painters from across the country—and increasingly, around the world.

Many of the artists he exhibits are graduates of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) and are now in their 60s and 70s. Some spent their careers as professional artists, while others returned to painting after retirement.

Regardless of background, his standards remain the same.
"It has to be excellence in craft, but it also has to be cutting edge. I want to be as tied to history as I am to the contemporary."
Because of his own exhibition history and professional network, Grasso is able to invite artists from across the United States and Europe.

The gallery's opening exhibition in April featured 22 artists from the United States, the Netherlands, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
"There were almost 200 people there, and we sold almost everything."

He believes one of the gallery's greatest strengths is introducing collectors to artists they might never have discovered otherwise.
"It's really up to me to show them."

Jawbone Gallery presents three solo exhibitions each year, along with three or four group exhibitions. The group exhibits allow for powerful pieces that align with strong themes. If you are asked, it is hard to say no when he is asking for one piece.

Solo exhibitions generally feature regional artists capable of producing enough work to fill the gallery.

Beauty Meets Danger
Much of Grasso's own artwork explores the tension between beauty and darkness.

"I've always liked the idea that beauty goes with danger."

He often references mythology, particularly the idea of the siren—beautiful yet dangerous. His paintings are rooted in realism, but each contains something subtly unsettling.
"Everything looks realistic enough to draw you in, but there's always something off."

He recalls one painting from a bird-themed exhibition that featured his daughter wearing a rain slicker while holding an osprey wearing a falconer's glove.

The image captivated viewers precisely because it seemed possible—yet impossible. Why, you might ask? Because you cannot train an osprey as you would a falcon. Birding is a huge and impactful part of our community and the piece was well received!
For Grasso, that ambiguity invites viewers to create their own narratives.

"Everybody sees their own story in it."

He believes that uncertainty is one of art's greatest strengths.
"The legends and the lore are written by the critics, not the artists."

The Creative Process
Painting is rarely straightforward. "Every painting's a puzzle."
Occasionally he abandons a work—or even destroys it.
"I've taken a knife to paintings before."
But those moments are rare. More often, he works through the challenges until the painting finally comes together.

He often reflects on Leonardo da Vinci's famous observation:
"Art is never finished— only abandoned."

From Muralist to Fine Artist
Grasso attended Ocean City High School in Ocean City, New Jersey, and is largely self-taught.
Immediately after graduation, he joined a mural company in Atlantic City. Working alongside master craftsmen from diverse backgrounds—including Russian painters, Korean artists, and veteran billboard painters from Philadelphia—became his education.

"I was a sponge."

He spent his days painting murals and his nights creating personal work. "For almost twenty years I painted eight hours a day, then came home and painted until I fell asleep."
Those years easily exceeded Malcolm Gladwell's famous "10,000-hour rule."

"I dedicated my life to it."

Although he originally dreamed of becoming a comic book artist, painting ultimately became his medium.

"Painting picked me."

Working in Oil and Watercolor
Grasso works extensively in both oil and watercolor.
Oil painting initially appealed to him because of its long tradition.
"It's what the masters used."

Watercolor, however, offers something completely different.
"I like the immediacy. I like the looseness."
His watercolor paintings challenge expectations, relying on dramatic dark values and rich color rather than the soft, pastel look many people associate with the medium.

Advice for Young Artists
When asked what advice he would give aspiring artists, Grasso laughs.
"Do something else."

The joke carries an important truth. He believes today's art world is saturated, especially after social media made being an artist more visible than ever. Success requires complete commitment.
Beyond artistic skill, artists must build relationships, network constantly, and understand the business side of the profession.
His biggest recommendation?

"Do what you know."

Rather than chasing trends, artists should embrace what genuinely excites them. Artists are inspired by many different people and their own experiences. Take time to figure out who you are and then who you are as an artist.

"If you love painting tigers, paint tigers."

Lessons Still Being Learned
One lesson took decades to learn.
"Two years ago, after painting professionally for almost twenty years, I finally sat back and told myself, 'This isn't going to be perfect.'"
That realization transformed his relationship with painting. For a perfectionist, it was freeing.
"The work became more enjoyable."
He now believes perfection is an impossible standard.
"Whatever perfection you're searching for—let it go."

Handling Criticism
As a public artist, criticism is inevitable. Asked how he handles it, Grasso laughs.
"Not well."
Along with a large support system, he credits his wife, Alicia, with helping him keep perspective. She acts as the lion tamer, if you will. She knows him best, knows his work, and his passion.
"Every emotion goes through her first."
Over time, he's also learned not to give too much weight to criticism online. She helps him realize it is all just “noise in a channel.”
"Half of it is probably robots anyway."

Instead, he focuses on making the next painting. Keep doing what you are doing in the way in which you want to do it, because you are not going to make everyone happy.
"Each piece gets to the next piece."

Even unsuccessful paintings are valuable because each one teaches something new.

Finding Home in Cape May
Although Grasso once lived in Somers Point, Cape May gradually became home after his wife, Alicia, decided she wanted to relocate from New York City. She had worked in Cape May after college for a few summers before moving to New York City. When she would come down to visit, they kept finding themselves here on the island. Alicia found a house to rent in North Cape May before eventually buying their own home.

The move coincided with an exciting period in Cape May's cultural growth, including his longtime relationship with Jack Wright and Exit Zero magazine.

Designing numerous Exit Zero covers brought his artwork to a broader local audience while social media simultaneously expanded his reach nationally.

"We really became part of the community."

That sense of community convinced them to stay.

Looking Ahead
Despite years of traveling for exhibitions and research, Grasso says his family's next trip will be different.
Instead of museums, galleries, and packed itineraries, he wants something much simpler.
"We need to go somewhere where there's nothing to do but sit in the sand."
After years of constant movement, he's looking forward to a true vacation.

"You have to let yourself be bored."

07/15/2026

Excited to share that my new website has launched! It was a fantastic experience developing this site!

Your Gateway to Buying, Selling, and Renting in Cape May. Along the way, learn about local musicians, artists and regional creatives who call this place home. 

06/23/2026

I added this to my 4th of July weekend plans 🎨🖼️💛