A dual exhibition at the California Surf Museum (CSM) and Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA), this exhibition will explore art that has emerged from the surf lifestyle and surfing’s influence on artists.
“Surfing is part of a defining identity of California’s image and has had an indelible effect on global society,” says Jim Kempton, Executive Director of The California Surf Museum and co-curator of the exhibition. “Everyone who has experienced the feeling of riding a wave understands just how hard it is to describe that incredible sensation, referred to as ‘stoke.’”
It seems that only through creative self-expression can surf artists capture the essence of stoke and the inspiration that can be found between the surfer and the wave.
“This is a collaboration between two museums that both have the goal of offering an understanding of California’s rich heritage of contemporary art,” says Katie Dolgov, Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA)’s Director of Exhibitions and Collections. “Surf art is part of that mosaic.”
The current intersection of surf and art, however, extends far beyond art documenting life. Both have stretched to encompass each other and the areas of popular culture, fashion, and other commercial applications. Artists who surf may take this creative energy in many directions and may explore subjects outside of surfing and surf culture. This joint exhibition co-produced by OMA and The California Surf Museum will feature a variety of media, from traditional art making methods to works in resin, murals, surfboards, graphic art, sculpture, or fabric, all with the goal to convey the creative power that all artists experience, on or off the wave.
“A large-scale exhibition on this subject is an exciting avenue to explore,” says OMA’s Executive Director and co-curator Maria Mingalone. “It illuminates a vibrant sector of our artistic community and has an appeal to a wide audience.”
Artists:
