Art for sale at the Pines media center starting Oct. 1, proceeds to be donated

By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

(Sept. 24, 2026) Art pieces will be up for grabs this fall at the Ocean Pines Library, with 100% of the sale proceeds to be split into donations to the media center’s programs and the animal rescue organization, Town Cats.

Artist and Town Cats volunteer Carol Gentes is spearheading the fundraiser. For three months, from Oct. 1 through Dec. 30, the works of local artists will be available for purchase at the Ocean Pines Library. To start, 30 pieces are slated for display, and each one will be replaced when it sells.

Gentes, who is donating her own pieces, said 80% of the fundraiser’s earnings will go to Town Cats. The remaining 20% is reserved for Friends of the Ocean Pines Library. The library organization helps maintain the facility and plans literary programs and events.

“Libraries offer a lot for the community, so the 20% they will be getting goes to the Friends of the Ocean Pines Library,” Gentes said. “They use that to develop new programs for community needs. Anyone living in Ocean Pines has a gem there. [The library] is really community oriented.”

Gentes said that her goal is to raise at least $5,000.

The money secured for Town Cats, whose mission is to provide medical aid, fostering, and adoption services to Ocean City’s stray cats, will help care for the more than 120 cats at the nonprofit’s sanctuary, Blufrog Farm. Blufrog was established in 2022.

According to Town Cats’ website, Blufrog Farm volunteers are on site daily filling water and food bowls, cleaning nearly 40 litter boxes, administering medications, making vet appointments, organizing adoption events, and taking in new cats. Every cat at the farm is available for adoption.

In a press release, Town Cats President Susan Mohler said the funds from the art sale will help cover hefty medical bills recently incurred. She added that food, litter, medicine, supplies and utilities costs are constant.

“The cost of caring for the cats is ongoing, so we’re always looking for fundraisers, and I thought this would be a fun fundraiser,” Gentes said. “It’s also a thank you for people who would be donating money anyway. They can get something back. They can get a piece of art.”

The prices on the artworks will range mostly from $50 to $300, although Gentes said a few pieces may have a price tag as low as $10, and a couple could be over $300.

The subjects of the art will include cats, birds, insects, landscapes, flowers, animals, ocean and beach themes, and abstract options. Additionally, buyers will have choices of acrylics, some oil paintings, mixed media, giclee prints, and photography.

Gentes said three other artists have committed to donating their work, including Worcester County Arts Council member Ellie Scott. Organizers are accepting creations from anyone else who wants to participate, as long as their pieces are ready to be hung.

Artists can provide works for the fundraiser by contacting Gentes at artistcmgentes@gmail.com. Creators should be aware that 100% of the proceeds from sales will be donated.

“Anybody who has good, sellable art that’s ready to be hung if they want to donate something, we would certainly appreciate that,” Gentes said.

Those looking to buy a piece of art can visit the Ocean Pines Library during its normal hours beginning Oct. 1.