Interpretations of the Sea Shared in New Exhibit, Ocean State of Mind

BRISTOL, Rhode Island - The Bristol Art Museum and Rogers Free Library announce a new juried, community exhibit comprised of works of art that asked artists to visually represent what they think about when they see the sea. 36 works of art by 18 artists are featured in this community exhibit, Ocean State of Mind, in the Community Galleries of the Rogers Free Library from Tues., May 23 to Thurs., Jul. 20, 2023. Local artist and art teacher Elizabeth O’Connell served as juror for this exhibit.

“Rhode Island has a historical relationship with the ocean for travel, fishing, trade, pleasure, and politics,” said O’Connell. “John Brown prospered in sea trade in the early days of Providence, and the burning of the Gaspee was one of the first actions to seek independence from England. Sailing, the America’s Cup races, and visits from the Black Ships are summer pleasures. Seafood is loved by residents and tourists. We all flock to its beautiful beaches in the summer months to swim and bask.”

“The art submitted to this exhibit reflects many of these ocean-related topics,” added O’Connell. “I first perused the pieces online, and after that viewed the works in person. The emotions and questions they elicited from me were what drew my attention and admiration, as much as the excellence in execution.

“The museum and library are pleased to offer this exhibit to the community through which artists share their visual representation of inspiration they derive from the sea,” said Vicky McGrath, Bristol Art Museum Board Member. “This exhibit, featured in the community galleries of the Rogers Free Library, may also provide an opportunity for visitors to interpret what the sea means to them be it for recreational, economic, or other purposes. We wish to express our sincere gratitude to Elizabeth O’Connell for serving as juror for this exhibit.”

Artists were invited to digitally submit their artwork online on the Bristol Art Museum website. The exhibit features drawings, paintings, printmaking, collage, photography, and two-dimensional fiber arts.

Works of Distinction, With Commentary by Elizabeth O’Connell

Jenny Lathan’s Shipwrecked (Jamestown)
An oil on canvas, is an amazing depiction of the power of a stormy sea. The choice of palette, the angle of the boat, limited composition, and the texture of the water all convey excitement and terror, and unpredictable endings.

Deanna Michael-Woods’ Gentle Waves (Dighton)
An oil painting, this work conveys a different mood of the sea: graceful waves which draws in the observer and suggest they are right there, in the water, floating over waves on a beautiful day. The careful execution of the painting’s details, choice of realistic colors, and soft, delicate sea foam gives a sense of peace.

Elizabeth Scanlon’s Untitled Encaustic on Oyster Shells (Bristol)
The artist appears to have admired these shells during a leisurely walk on the beach, strung them on twine to hang on her seaside deck, and somehow magically transposed the blue and turquoise colors of the seas onto them. Simple, elegant, beautiful!

Whitney Bates’ Night Swimmer (Cranston)
A Linocut print with glitter, is a stunning depiction of a woman swimming in dark waters shimmering with stillness, mystery, and beauty. I liked the simple lines and close view. While I admire her independence and courage, I also wondered: is anyone accompanying her? What lies
beneath the surface of the water?

Richard Kaiser’s Twilight on the Kicki (Warren)
A watercolor painting, celebrates summer’s spectacularly colorful sunsets and reflections of sky and boats on a saltwater river in Rhode Island. The bright sunset contrasts beautifully with the darker landscape and carefully rendered boats. The sense of peace and awe conveyed is remarkable!

Bonnie Jaffe’sTimeless (Barrington)
“This piece makes me contemplate the passage of time, and what endures. The young woman sitting on a bluff by the sea, fishing, is seen from a distance. Her dress, clothing, and hairstyle appear to be from the 1800s. The ocean dominates the scale of the picture. While she may be gone now, the sea, infinite compared to her limited presence, continues to endure and flow, timelessly.”

Elizabeth O’Connell is widely known in area art circles through classes she teaches on drawing and watercolor painting at the Bristol Art Museum, The Portsmouth Arts Guild, and Bristol’s Audubon Society. Watercolor is a natural medium for O’Connell given the inspiration she draws from nature. Her degrees are in Fine Art, Literacy, and Education. O’Connell has worked extensively in textiles and ceramics and is completing a Natural Science Illustration Certificate at the Rhode Island School of Design. She exhibits and sells her work in local galleries and at her studio in Warren.