In the Arts

Oil paintings by Gert Doherty Pezzutti will be on exhibit at the Oceanic Free Library in Rumson for the month of June. Her work consists of many thin layers of oil color, creating a depth reminiscent of the Renaissance painters, and her realistic work suggests trompe l'oeil. A charter member of Red Bank's Art Alliance, she has won first place at three state shows. The Oceanic Free Library is located at Avenue-of-Two-Rivers in Rumson. For more information, call (732) 842-2692.

Shakespeare in music from Giuseppe Verdi's "Macbeth" to Cole Porter's "Kiss Me, Kate" will be presented by the Monmouth Civic Chorus in "Sounds Like Shakespeare" Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. The concert will take place at the Two River Theater, 21 Bridge Ave., Red Bank. Tickets: $25, $22 seniors, $5 students are available at (732) 933-9333. For information, visit www.monmouthcivicchorus.org.

On Saturday, the Canning Company at the Shore Institute of the Contemporary Arts will host Michael Ferentino & Christian Beach with special guest Rick Barry. The show at Sica's cafe starts at 8 p.m., and there is a $5 cover charge. Ferentino and Beach are members of the band Transfusion M and Barry is a prize-winning singer/songwriter. SICA is located at 20 Third Ave.

On Tuesday, June 27, the Monmouth County Arts Council (MCAC) will host the New Jersey premiere of the film "Who Killed the Electric Car?" at Clearview Cinemas, 36 White St., Red Bank, at 7:30 p.m. A 6 p.m. reception at McKay Imaging, 12 Monmouth St., Red Bank, will be held prior to the screening. A whodunit documentary narrated by Martin Sheen, the film chronicles the life and mysterious death of the all-electric GM EV1, examining its cultural and economic ripple effects, and how they reverberated through the halls of government and big business. Tickets for the MCAC fundraiser are $40 for members, $45 for nonmembers, and film-only tickets are $10. Contact the MCAC at (732) 212-1890 or cq@monmouthartscouncil.org.

For more information, visit www.sica.org.

The "Blues by the Beach" concert series in Long Branch continues in June at the Ocean Place Resort and Spa, 1 Ocean Blvd., on Saturday nights from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. No cover charge. The schedule is: June 10, SaRong Crenshaw; June 17, Mickey Jr.; June 24, Moose and the Bullit Proof Band. For more information, call (732) 571-4000 or visit www.oceanplaceresort.com.

On June 11 from 3-7 p.m., friends and fellow musicians will hold a benefit for Herbi Freeman, Tinton Falls singer and songwriter, who is recuperating after a three-year illness. Freeman recorded with "Split Decision" and "Fidelity," as well as sang and played drums with local cover band "Red Storm." He worked for years as a manager at T.G.I. Fridays in Eatontown. Yargur's Farm and My Brother's Band as well as a host of guest musicians will get together to raise money to help defray medical expenses. The fundraiser will take place at The BeachHaus on Route 9 in Bayville and the suggested donation is $20 at the door.

For more information, visit www.yasgurs.com/party.html. If you can't make it to the benefit, but would like to contribute, please send your donation to: Herb Freeman, c/o McKay Imaging, 12 Monmouth St., Red Bank, NJ 07701.

Become a Plein Air painter! Join professional artists Sven Widen & Lizzi Schippert, in fun outdoor drawing & painting sessions. Plein Air Wednesdays will run all summer long at 10 a.m. through Aug. 30. Learn one-on-one, how to depict perspective, light and color. All media, all experience levels. The sessions will take place outdoors at venues in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Cost is $42. Call (732) 929-9732 or e-mail to: openingyoureyes@juno.com.

"Celebrate Dance VII" will be presented at the Two River Theater, 21 Bridge Ave., Red Bank, June 15 and June 16 at 7 p.m. The performance is an eclectic collaboration of dance, including Tango, Mambo, modern, jazz and classical ballet. Graduates of the Company of Dance Arts, Red Bank, who are currently in professional companies will appear as guest artists. Tickets $30. For tickets and information, call (732) 345-1400 or visit www.trtc.org or www.codanj.com.

The 2006 Monmouth County Senior Art Contest and Exhibition will be held at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, 125 Symmes Drive, Manalapan. The art show is open to residents 60 years or over and will run from Thursday, July 6, through Monday, July 31. Artwork will be judged in two categories: professional and nonprofessional and each class will include acrylic, original craft, digital imagery, drawing, mixed media, oil, pastel, photography, print, sculpture and watercolor. First-place winners will advance to the state competition. To enter, contact Joni Baron at the county Office on Aging at (732) 683-8919. Deadline for applying is Thursday, June 22.