To Mark its 10th year, the 10th Annual Coos Bay Maritime Art Exhibit,
held at the Coos Art Museum,featured John Stobart along with eight of the
previously featured artists. A total of forty-five West Coast artists displayed
fifty-seven juried works. The opening festivities included a reception
at the Coos Art Museum, followed by a banquet,an artist breakfast,
a tugboat ride in the Coos Bay harbor, and an artists' picnic.
During the picnic several of the artists were asked their view of
marine art and art in general.
"Maritime art is alive and kicking and very successful and particularly
active on the West Coast," stated John Stobart. But most agreed that interest
in and sales of art in general have been affected by a negative economy.
Bill Lowe, an artist associated with the Vallejo Gallery in Newport Beach,
California,sees "keen interest in clients seeking the work of deceased
maritime artists"as investments but feels that the public may be missing
opportunities for quality work by contemporary artists. Louis Stephan Gadal,
a successful watercolorist from West Los Angeles gives credit to
current artists,including Stobart,Don Demers,Christopher Blossom and
the late David Thimgan,for keeping maritime history alive through their work.
He also credits organizations such as the American Society of Marine Artists and museums such as Mystic Seaport for focusing on our marine heritage,and
those that have built historic ship replicas or rescued and restored historic ships.
Stobart feels strongly that basic skills in art must be provided the next
generation of artists----one of the reasons he supports the Lyme Academy
College of Art in Connecticut----and that on-site painting should be a
primary part of each artist's own unique "signature"
Overall,there was much optimism and excitement surrounding this exhibit.
The Camaraderie of the Coos Bay group,reflected in the excellence
of the exhibit does make it appear that maritime art will indeed be an
important and continuing presence on the West Coast. Many will be
attending the American Society of Marine Artist's meetings to be held for the
first time on the Weat Coast,24-26 October 2003 in Carmel,Californi
(National Maritime Historical Society No. 105 Autumn 2003
SEA HISTORY by Archi Davenport....Coos Bay Oregon )
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