American Society of Maritime Artists Exhibits More Artists than Ever at the Maritime Gallery

The held an opening reception for its American Society of Maritime Artists 2011 Invitational Exhibition on Friday April 1. The exhibition is one of the largest produced by the maritime gallery in its still brief history featuring over 60 pieces by 28 artists.

This was also the largest number of ASMA signature and fellow member artists to be gathered under one roof for a group show.  It only seems fitting that such a display should happen in the Maritime Gallery, in New London, a shoreline city with a rich maritime history.

“The American Society of Marine Artists was founded in 1978 by a small group of the country's leading maritime artists. They were looking for mutual support and companionship, to enhance public awareness of the genre, to explore and record the history of American marine art, and to encourage the work of newcomers,” states the ASMA website.

Every corner of the Brick Annex and Loon Gallery were completely filled with artwork. There was even a need to temporarily install a central hanging space in the Annex.  “It was a challenging show to hang because there were so many pieces…we were getting boxes in everyday from all over,” says gallery manager Katie Fogg. Everyone was happy with the end result which was an impressive display and large crowd of attendees.

The opening reception was strategically planned on the day of the first New London Arts Night in an effort to bolster the crowd for this already big event.  There was also hope that new gallery visitors would walk by and into the event.

Of the 28 artists participating in the show, 10 were able to make it to the reception and each addressed the crowd with a few words.  The president of the ASMA, Russ Kramer, was not able to attend but was there in spirit, sending a speech for gallery owner John Johnson to read.

In his speech Kramer thanked the Maritime Gallery for hosting the exhibition and extended his congratulations to the participants. “I walked through the show yesterday and was very impressed with the outstanding quality of the paintings and sculpture,” said Kramer in his speech. “What you see in the gallery is among the best contemporary marine art being produced by today's modern masters.”

One of these “modern masters” is Charles Raskob Robinson one of the original members of the organization founded in 1978 and a fellow of ASMA. Robinson paints beautiful scenes of his lakefront property at different times of year including the dead of winter. He accomplishes this feat by using a portable heated studio that he can tow along on skis to the lakefront or any other location he desires. Another featured painter is Jerry Weiss, who paints his scenes very rapidly to capture the full impact and essence of the scene at the moment it is being captured. “The paintings in this show were made in some of my favorite sites along the Maine coast, where I've visited for the last dozen years,” says Weiss. 

Perhaps the most intriguing technique at the exhibit was scrimshaw by artist David Smith.  Because of its nature, scrimshaw, which has been traced back to 16th century Dutch whalers, is becoming more of a rarity. The technique involves making pinprick incisions in the teeth of whales or ivory of elephants or fossils.  Fossil ivories are the most popular though they are rapidly dwindling in supply. One of Smith’s pieces “Coronet” is scrimshaw of a sail vessel on a mamoth tusk.

Please visit these modern masters in maritime art at the Maritime Gallery at Firehouse Square in New London. The exhibit will be ongoing until May 27 and will be followed up by “Our Silent Service” a showing of charcoal sketches and watercolor sketches by Lizbeth McGee.  The opening reception will be on June 3 from 5 to 8 p.m.

For more information on the Maritime Gallery at Firehouse Square please visit www.firehousesquare.com

For more information on The American Society of Maritime Artists please visit www.americansocietyofmarineartists.com