Surf’s up at the Noarlunga Arts Centre
Published on 15 December 2022
Ride the wave to the Noarlunga Arts Centre for the 29th annual Surf Art Exhibition.
The free exhibition features 82 artists and 122 works of art, all with surfing or coast culture themes.
Exhibited artworks include a variety of media: painting in oil, acrylic and watercolour, jewellery, mosaics, photography, glassware, ink, textiles and sculpture.
On display are mosaic seahorses laid in driftwood float, a surfboard with a shark swimming across its surface, each umbrellas and surfers on canvas, and jewellery and sculptures inspired by sea life.
Moana artist Dean Wanstall employed acrylic on canvas to create ‘Mid Coast Shorebreak’, the winner of this year’s Surf 2022 Art Prize. The painting depicts the translucent beauty of a wave breaking on the Fleurieu’s coastline.
“‘Mid Coast Shorebreak’ captures a moment in time, something that catches the eye and the subject, but there is also artistic licence,” says Dean.
“The painting is layered to get the effect of the ripples on the water and the sunlight through the waves. The orange sea plants swirling in the wave contrast with the greens and blues of the water.
“I surf a lot. Much of my work relates to the coast as this is one of my favourite subjects, although lately I have also been painting birds. Many of my previous works were of surf-chaser vehicles with surfboards on rooves or hanging out of vehicle windows,” says Dean.
The exhibition is open to Australian artists producing works that celebrate the ocean, the coastal environment and all things related to surfing. This year, 58 of those exhibiting are local artists.
The exhibition is accompanied by a program of events including a surf movie screening, a summer beach art market, talks with exhibiting artists, and live music.
Surf movie The Big Wave Project II will be screened at the arts centre on the evening of Friday 16 December 2022, part of the national Australian Surf Movie Festival.
Exhibiting artists, including Dean, will discuss their works with gallery visitors on Saturday 17 December 2022 and Saturday 14 January 2023.
The South Port Surf Life Saving Club will host the inaugural summer beach art market showcasing coastal arts, crafts and trinkets on Saturday 21 January, while Charles Jenkins and Nick Vulture head the line-up of live music at the arts centre.
The Surf Art Exhibition opened on Friday 9 December 2022 and continues until Monday 30 January 2023. All events are free.
Surf Art Exhibition program of events
Art exhibition
Noarlunga Arts Centre, 22 Gawler Street, Port Noarlunga
Friday 9 December 2022 to Monday 30 January 2023
Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm; Saturdays 1pm to 4pm
Surf movie, The Big Wave Project II
Noarlunga Arts Centre, 22 Gawler Street, Port Noarlunga
Friday 16 December 2022, 7pm to 9pm
Surf artist talks
Noarlunga Arts Centre, 22 Gawler Street, Port Noarlunga
Saturday 17 December 2022, 1pm to 4pm
Saturday 14 January 2023, 1pm to 4pm
Summer beach art market
South Port Surf Life Saving Club, 50 Weatherald Terrace, Port Noarlunga South
Saturday 21 January 2023, 1pm to 4pm
Live music, Charles Jenkins and Nick Vulture
Noarlunga Arts Centre, 22 Gawler Street, Port Noarlunga
Saturday 21 January 2023, 2pm to 4pm
https://www.onkaparingacity.com/arts-events-tourism/arts/Surf-2022
Images from the top:
Surf 2022 Art Prize winner ‘Mid Coast Shorebreak’ by Dean Wanstall
'Whale Tale' by Karen Smith
'Beach Buddies' by Donna Chess
'Maslin Beach' by Eileen Lubiana
'BCC (Before Climate Change)' by Raewyn Spinks
Photographs: Aretha Byrne-Ockerby