Ink Lounge

This establishment, nestled behind the busyness that is Broadway, is a place where all your artistic dreams can come true. Always wanted to be a Warhol or Lichtenstein? Well, this is your shot. And with beer, too!
Nicky is quite possibly the sweetest and must welcoming person in the world and makes screen printing the most accessible experience ever. No need to fear the unknown or be intimidated by crazy art gurus. Come one, comfortable all and screen print!

A rad little independent art studio with rotating exhibits and workshops for the «weekend warrior”-type artists, it’s a little splash of culture tucked along the Block 7 Arts in Belmar.
Two graphic designers run the show (no pun intended), hosting different events (a «First Friday”-type, among others) and various exhibits pulled in from around the country. The latest one is Jay Ryan and Diana Sudyka. Ryan has done a lot of work for several «known» (mainly Indie) artists: Jeff Tweedy, The Decemberists, Patton Oswalt, to name those I can remember… Whether you know the names or not (to be honest – I don’t for the most part), it’s still a great place to check out. A portion of proceeds from their exhibits go towards some charities and schools – how’s that for indie warm and fuzzy?
There are also their hosted workshops on screenprinting. And, as noted in their blog/​site, they do a lot of work with children and local artists, so that’s what I think brings out that 5^th star. More than just a stop on a summer’s eve stroll along Block 7, Ink Lounge Gallery is a truly involved facet both in the artists’ community and the people’s community.