Below the Surface II
A Collaboration Between Artists & Scientists
Background artwork: “Reimagine New England No. 8” — Paul Eric Johnson
“Surfacing Series: Lagoon Bridge” — Day Moore
Below the Surface II was a juried exhibition by Art League RI (ALRI) featuring collaborative ocean science-based artwork by artists from around the U.S.
Below the Surface II was displayed in three exhibition spaces from June 2022 - January 2023.
A Diverse Collection
Below the Surface II consisted of paintings, sculptures, photography, and digital works.
The exhibition built on the ideas explored in the original Below the Surface exhibition, in which artists and scientists teamed up to explore oceanographic topics through art. Below the Surface II interacts with its predecessor, but also distinguishes itself by featuring a wider range of art by artists from around the country.
Poem by Paul Eric Johnson to accompany “Reimagine New England No. 8”:
quahog
chowder
little neck
cherrystone
on the half shell
Ben Franklin
at the Union Oyster House
short rake and bull
tongs
beneath a rippling surface
primitive life in the mud
filtering the seas for sustenance
ebb and flow
a moment of the sun and moon
neap and spring
wampumpeag
power and status
currency of the fur trade
two quarts fried
my lunch at the Dairy Queen
Award Winners
Piercing the Veil — Chris Maynard
Click the circles to see full images of each winning piece.
Origins III — Dorothy Raymond
Of Ocean and Sky No. 2 — Alexander Morris
Chris Maynard, Dorothy Raymond, and Alexander Morris were the three Below the Surface II award winners. Learn more and read interviews with the artists in the Synergy News article about the winners.