SURF ‘N’ TURF

Guy Nelson, Nathaniel Meyer, Dana Oldfather, Eugène L G Isabey, and Frederick Judd Waugh 
On view: July 12th - August 11th 
Opening Reception: Saturday July 20th, 4 - 7 PM

As the world grapples with environmental challenges and the complexities of existence, five visionary artists, Guy Nelson, Nathaniel Meyer, and Dana Oldfather, Eugène L G Isabey, and Frederick Judd Waugh converge their unique perspectives in an exhibition titled SURF ‘N’ TURF Recognizing that contemporary art is deeply rooted in historical traditions, this show includes older paintings to illustrate the continuum of artistic expression.The exhibition, will be on view from July 12 to August 11.

Guy Nelson's work serves as a commentary on environmental and human conditions, rooted in the atmospheric and unsettling settings of the natural world. Through his art, Nelson juxtaposes the fragility and resilience of both human and plant communities, drawing parallels between their shared challenges and synergies. Beyond the canvas, Nelson's commitment to land stewardship manifests in his active involvement in planting trees, wildflowers, and managing native landscapes, reflecting his deep connection to nature.

Nathaniel Meyer's artistic vision transports viewers into a realm where idealized landscapes serve as a sanctuary from the harsh realities of the outside world. Embracing the Romantic notion of nature as an unattainable ideal, Meyer's paintings weave together recollected memories, nostalgia, and pure invention to create utopian vistas imbued with hope and yearning. Inspired by a diverse array of influences, from Golden Age illustration to 8-bit video games, Meyer's work challenges perceptions of reality, inviting viewers to explore the complexity of the natural world through a lens of imagination.

Dana Oldfather's landscapes serve as a reflection of the human experience, capturing the tension between existence and impermanence. Through her art, Oldfather confronts the inherent uncertainty of life, channeling her inner turmoil into psychedelic landscapes that teeter on the brink of reckoning and upheaval. Each brushstroke conveys a sense of trepidation, as flora morphs and landscapes warp under the weight of impending change. Oldfather's work serves as a poignant reminder of the transient nature of existence, urging viewers to confront their fears and embrace the unknown.

Additionally, the exhibition features two remarkable historical pieces: Louis Gabriel Eugène L G Isabey's "Fishing Boat at Sea" and Frederick Judd Waugh's "Seascape." These works underscore the ever-evolving climate and the enduring tradition of landscape painting, highlighting how artistic interpretations of nature have changed over time while also preserving certain timeless elements. This juxtaposition invites viewers to reflect on the continuity and transformation within the genre, offering a deeper understanding of our relationship with the natural world through the lens of both past and present.

Dana Oldfather has exhibited in galleries and museums including Library Street Collective (Detroit), Zg Gallery (Chicago), Kathryn Markel Fine Art (New York), Red Arrow Gallery (Nashville), Abattoir Gallery (Cleveland), moCa (Cleveland), and The University of Southern Queensland (Australia). She was awarded the William and Dorothy Yeck Award for Young Painters, two Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Awards, a Satellite Fund Emergency Relief Grant from SPACES Gallery, The Warhol Foundation, and The Cleveland Foundation, and was a 2019 finalist for the Hopper Prize. Oldfather has been published in New American Paintings, Beautiful/Decay, and ArtMaze Magazine among others. Her paintings are found in many public and corporate collections in the US including MGM International, Bedrock Detroit, The Putnam Collection for Case Western Reserve University, The Cleveland Clinic, and the Progressive Art Collection. Dana Oldfather works and lives just outside Cleveland, Ohio with her husband Randall and son Arlo.

Guy Nelson has exhibited in numerous solo exhibitions, including ChaShaMa (NY), Transmitter Gallery (Brooklyn), DeKalb Galleries at Pratt Institute (Brooklyn), Fore and Aft Projects (Georgetown), UICA (Grand Rapids), and Soo Visual Arts Center (Minneapolis). His work has also been featured in selected group exhibitions at venues such as A-Mill Gallery (Minneapolis), Field Projects (NY), Metropolitan Structures at The Java Project (Brooklyn), Peninsula Art Space (Brooklyn), Show Room (Brooklyn), Small Black Door (Queens), Parallel Art Space (Queens), Heskin Contemporary (New York), Soapbox Gallery (Brooklyn), Visual Art Center of New Jersey (Summit), North Dakota Museum of Art (Grand Forks), First Amendment Arts (Minneapolis), Bethel University - 9th Street Gallery (Saint Paul), and Soo Visual Arts Center (Minneapolis). Nelson was awarded the Minnesota Artist Initiative Fellowship and holds an MFA with honors from Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY. His contributions to both art and environmental conservation reflect his deep commitment to exploring and preserving the natural world.

Nathaniel Meyer holds an MFA in Visual Arts from Lesley University College of Art & Design and a BFA in Painting with a minor in Art History from Boston University. Meyer has been recognized with several prestigious awards and residencies, including the Blanche E. Colman Award and the Monhegan Artist Residency. His work is part of the permanent collection at the Munakata Shiko Memorial Museum of Art in Aomori, Japan. Meyer has exhibited in numerous solo exhibitions, including Page Gallery (Camden, Maine), Elizabeth Moss Gallery (Falmouth, Maine), and Saccarappa Gallery (Westbrook, Maine). His group exhibition history features shows at Page Gallery (Camden, Maine), Marlin and Regina Miller Art Gallery at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Aomori Art Pavilion (Aomori, Japan), University of Maine (Orono, Maine), and University of Southern Maine Art Gallery (Gorham, Maine), among others.Meyer has served on the board of directors for the Monhegan Artist Residency Corporation and participated in residencies at Monhegan Island and Hewnoaks in Lovell, Maine.

Eugène L G Isabey (1803-1886) was a prominent French painter, lithographer, and watercolorist known for his marine and coastal scenes, historical subjects, and genre paintings. Born in Paris, he was the son of Jean-Baptiste Isabey, a famous portrait painter. Eugène Isabey initially trained under his father and later studied under the landscape painter Xavier Leprince. He gained recognition for his dramatic and atmospheric maritime scenes, often depicting ships in turbulent waters or moored along rugged coastlines. Throughout his career, he exhibited regularly at the Paris Salon and was awarded the Legion of Honor in 1832.

Frederick Judd Waugh (1861-1940) was an American artist born in Bordentown, New Jersey, Waugh studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and later at the Académie Julian in Paris. His early career included work as an illustrator, but he found his true calling in painting the sea. Waugh's seascapes are celebrated for their dynamic compositions, dramatic lighting, and realistic depiction of waves and coastal scenes. Waugh's works were exhibited widely in the United States and Europe, and he received numerous accolades, including medals at the Paris Salon and the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. His paintings are held in many major museums and private collections worldwide.