By Megan V. Williams
Wilmington, NC – Everything from hand-painted balsawood long boards to surf-inspired metal sculptures will fill Wrightsville Beach's Bluewater Grill this Sunday for the inaugural Surf Artisan Exhibit.
Organizer Robert Parker says he got the idea to highlight the artistic side of surfing after going to a rare board auction at a Hawaiian art gallery. Parker says art is a natural extension of the surfing lifestyle.
"The artisan part of actually riding a wave is life art. And so that life-art can translate into painting, photography, sculpture, the actually boards themselves," he said.
Boards are a big focus of the show, from custom shapes to vintage wooden boards, to three 'art-boards' with original paintings by Wyland, a celebrated painter of sea-life. Locally, Wyland is responsible for the dolphin mural on Wilmington's Coastline Inn.
There's a real convergence of art and surfboards coming together over the last three to four years and it's really starting to pick up speed right now," Parker said. "For years and years everybody recognized surfing from clothing. Well, originally, when we started surfing, the surfboard itself was the iconic image. Which is now really we're trying to get that back."
Along with the art, Sunday's show will also include a screening of the Wrightsville Beach longboarding documentary, Any Given Morning, and a performance by Da Howlies. Proceeds benefit the Surfer's Healing charity.
Parker says that if the idea of a surf artisan show takes off, he hopes to expand the exhibit to a nationwide venue.
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First Annual Surf Artisan Exhibit
Bluewater Grill, Wrightsville Beach
Sunday, April 13th
1 - 6pm
Admission: $5 at the door
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