Pine Barrens Lines on the Pines Event is back and better than ever

The Lines on the Pines indoor celebration of the New Jersey Pine Barrens has become tradition in South Jersey.

This popular book-signing, history, arts and craft show is dedicated to honoring the authors and history as well as the humanities and the arts of the Pinelands.

It is a free day, open to the public, courtesy of the 501 © (3) New Jersey nonprofit corporation It’s a Sign of the Pines.

The group originally began as a conversation among friends sitting in a Piney bar.

“How could we bring like-minded people together to celebrate and maintain the cultural richness of the New Jersey Pine Barrens?” said Linda Stanton, founder and president of the It’s a Sign of the Pines organization.

Eleven years ago, the first weekend gathering brought together authors and historians whose work reflected upon or was influenced by the Pines.

They decided to make the gathering an annual get together, and it has become a much-anticipated networking opportunity for presenters and for local community members who attend by the hundreds.

“The event is about raising awareness, not raising money,” Stanton said. “We want to provide a venue in a networking and social environment for local authors and artists as well as historic and environmental groups of the New Jersey Pine Barrens to showcase their talents, sell their products and share information.”

The historically well-attended event is gaining a reputation for having a laundry list of talent on site. This year’s Line on the Pine’s will have 80 different artists, authors musicians, crafters or groups.

One of these groups that have made the prestigious invite list is the Medford Historical Society, and one of the top artists featured this year will be its vice president, Holly Doyle.

However, Doyle isn’t known for what you would consider “normal” art; she is a recycling artist.

The six-year veteran of the Lines on the Pines collects everything from pinecones to driftwood to antique buttons. She uses these seemingly useless items to create signs, necklaces or whatever she can think of with her creative mind.

“If it’s sitting still long enough, I paint on it!” Doyle said.

She enjoys the opportunity to speak with guests about her work and about the importance of recycling when it comes to the preservation of the Pinelands.

Another Medford group attending the event will be the Dr. James Still Historic Office Site and Education Center. The group got involved back in 2012 and takes great pride in speaking with Pine Barren residents about their family story.

“The history of Dr. James Still and his family is very important to the story of the Pinelands. His life was an integral part of history, the families and culture of the Pinelands in the 1800s,” descendant of Dr. James Still Sam Still said.

The event also features a number of faces from all over the region that continue to come back each year after witnessing the extravaganza.

“Lines on the Pines was and is a great program to keep up interest in the Pine Barrens, and they are to be thanked for continuing it,” John E. Pearce of the Heart of the Pines group said.

“The event is more like a reunion than an exposition! The atmosphere sings out!” America’s Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame representative Jim Murphy said.

“I can’t thank them enough for their generosity in giving me a venue to honor my mother’s writing and passion for the Pines,” Anita Marie Lopez said.

The event has found a new home this year the organization believes will help the tradition flourish. The historic Renault Winery located at 72 N. Bremen Ave. in Egg Harbor City is in the middle of a vast untouched area, nestled in the Pine Barrens.

“It has charm and history, lots of history,” Stanton said. “And plenty of parking!”

Throughout the day-long event, the musical trio “Cranberry Jam,” led by Lines on the Pines supporter Joe Jones, will be playing traditional Appalachian folk songs.

Guests are encouraged to bring books from home to be signed by the authors or purchase books on site as well as handcrafted soaps, baskets, photographs, jewelry, metal works, crafted beer, carnivorous plants, decoys, hand-spun articles, paintings, candles, Pine Barrens Diamonds, sculptures and CDs — all related to the New Jersey Pine Barrens.

The event is sponsored by the AtlantiCare Healing Arts Program, Stockton University School of Arts and Humanities, the South Jersey Culture & History Center at Stockton, Atlantic County Utilities Authority, Plexus Publishing, Inc. and others.

“Remember when in our beautiful Pine Barrens, only leave behind your footprints in the sugar sand and only take home photos, lasting memories are guaranteed!” Stanton said.