From Toms River to Jersey City, there are two interesting art exhibits. Both feature lost art—one lost in a generation of video games, and one lost from view for a hundred years. 

Shore painter Virginia Pearl (www.virginiaperleartgallery.com) is hosting a unique new show at her own gallery. It features the work of Jay Levinson, a Toms River artist who is reinventing the vintage games of the 19th and 20th century through different media.

The Art Of The Game  uses modern materials to express these whimsical, nostalgic ideas. Each clever  piece is colorful, unique, and interactive. With video games and computers threatening to eclipse this genre, you’ll want to take a trip back in time and take in this fascinating perspective.  The Levinson exhibition runs through October 11th.

The Jersey City Museum (www.jerseycitymuseum.org) is about to launch its fall exhibition, which pays tribute to savvy art collectors in the northern part of the state. Headlining the show, entitled A Community Collects is a lost-until-recently masterwork by renowned German-American still life painter Severin Roesen (1815-1872).

The painting Still Life With Fruit was determined to be painted in the 1850’s. It actually sold more than a hundred years ago, but disappeared from the record. One museum supporter—an art collector, recently came across the painting stashed behind a dresser.  It had been a  gift from his elderly friend.  Now  authenticated and restored,  this painting  is one of a series of collector’s works on loan to the museum for the season.

Lost… and found. And always finding a new audience of art lovers.