Surf culture exhibition washes up in Hartlepool

Wave Migration by Laura Maynard will give visitors an intimate glimpse into the lives of a growing community made up of nearly 40 surfers who live on the Isle of Lewis - the biggest island in the Outer Hebrides, off the North West coast of Scotland. Some of the surfers were born there, but the majority were drawn to the islands by the waves and the way of life.

The Isle of Lewis-based artist, teacher and keen surfer will showcase her collection of 14 large scale and mixed media portraits which perfectly capture each surfer’s character and the event in their life that triggered their move north.

“My portraits are studies of each surfer and their favourite surf break, and I’ve layered each work with subtle symbols that hint at key moments, places or events in their lives. The goal is to tell the stories that have led them to stay or settle on Lewis and make the wild Atlantic coastline, cold water surf and close-knit surf community their home,” says Laura.

Laura Maynard

As a body of work Wave Migration intends to shine a light on a positive new island sub-culture - a group of independently-minded, family-focused individuals who make surfing and being at the coast a priority, pursuing a work-life balance that is so difficult to achieve in today’s world.

“After an incredibly challenging year with multiple closures and numerous scheduling changes to our programme, we are beyond thrilled that Laura’s exhibition will at last see the light of day when we re-open our doors.

“As a town with a strong coastal heritage as well as a growing surfing community, people here feel an incredibly powerful connection with the water and what it means to live by the sea. We really hope people who live in Hartlepool and the surrounding coastal areas will visit this wonderful exhibition,” says David Worthington, Head of Culture at Hartlepool Borough Council.

Alongside Laura’s work, film maker, photographer and surfer Jim Hope will play his short film of the islands’ wild coastal landscape, waves and cold water surf paradise which has been produced specially for the exhibition.

Wave Migration, which is free to visit, runs from Tuesday 18th May until Saturday 26th June at Hartlepool Art Gallery in Church Square which is open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10am to 5pm and entry to the exhibition is free.

For more information visit www.hartlepoolartgallery.co.uk