Art to the Second Power
The art of photography meets the art of surfboard shaping at Casa Romantica
By Andrea Swayne
San Clemente Times
Mill Valley, Calif., photographer Brown Cannon III opened his exhibit, Surface, on June 10 at the Casa Romantica in San Clemente. The show, a combination of framed photographs as well as collaborative works—with Nick Palandrani and Bruce Gordon of GP Surfboards in Capitola—which combine the art of surfboard shaping with the art of photography, features imagery from Brown’s travels with a focus on his greatest inspiration—the ocean.
“The venue [Casa Romantica] is the perfect setting for my show,” said Brown, noting the proximity to the ocean and awe inspiring views serving as a backdrop to his work. “Having fresh eyes on my work is also nice. Getting out of my community up north where my work tends to be seen frequently will hopefully bring in a new crowd, including the younger surf set.” Word of mouth generated by the opening reception does seem to be attracting a cross section of people. From media and fellow artists to art collectors and surfers, the work appeals to many types of people for different reasons. Surfers come to appreciate the art of shaping, fans of art photography come to enjoy the images, and both end up finding a new appreciation in the meaningful combination of the two.
“Art collectors who are not surfers at all are purchasing our work. That is really exciting to me,” said Cannon. “The work is being defined more as sculptural art pieces as opposed to just surfboards.”
The project was driven by Cannon’s desire to inspire people to protect and preserve sea life and the environment using the surfboards as a symbol of the relationship between humans and the ocean along with underwater, landscape, surfing and marine life images.
“A big part of the whole project from the beginning was finding a board maker who crafts boards that are beautiful enough to hang on the wall on their own and then have them become the frame for my photos,” said Cannon. “Upon entering the shaping room at GP I could immediately see that this partnership was going to be great for both of us.” This is a sentiment echoed by Palandrani who agreed that he would only consider putting photographs on his boards that are exceptional enough to meet his aesthetic standards as well. “This has taken both of us to a new level as artists,” said Palandrani. “I couldn’t have imagined a better collaboration.”
The art of the shaper—building boards completely by hand, much as it was done in the late 50s to early 60s—combined with the art of the photographer elevates this work to another level. It is not just art; it is art to the second power.
The show will run through August 16 at the Casa Romantica. In conjunction with the exhibit Casa Romantica will host Surf Culture Days, August 1 and 2, featuring live music, surfboard auctions, vendors, food and fun.
ON THE WEB: www.casaromantica.org , www.browncannon3.com
