WOODSTOCK SURF GALLERY

ROB GILLEY

WOLFGANG BLOCH

Wolfgang Bloch was born and raised in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
At a young age, Bloch discovered the joy of surfing along Ecuador's secluded beaches and, in the process, the coastal scenery that would forever serve as his primary source of inspiration.

To pursue higher education, in 1982, Bloch immigrated to the United States, where he graduated with a BFA from the University of Florida and later a BA in Design from the renowned Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. After enjoying a decade of well-noted commercial success as an art director and illustrator, working for companies like Gotcha Sportswear, Quiksilver, Billabong USA, Jeep, Indian Motorcycle, Tower Records, and others, Bloch dedicated himself to his original passion - painting.

Wolfgang Bloch's art reveals much about the man who creates it. But the hints are subtle: The subdued palette, the modest and unexpected materials; all utilized to reduce traditional seascapes to their essence and in the process imbue them with compelling intensity.

Bolton Colburn, director of The Laguna Art Museum calls Wolfgang's work "sublime and terribly romantic." To Ben Bramsey, senior editor of Artworks Magazine Wolfgang's paintings "tell the ocean's soothing tale by ridding distraction and preserving its sensory experience."

Chronicle Books published Wolfgang's first book in 2008, titled "Wolfgang Bloch: The Colors of Coincidence", designed by David Carson and written by Mike Stice. The book is an intimate and soulful account of the artist's rich and layered life, featuring the most evocative examples from his enthralling body of work. 

Over the past decade, Bloch's work has been exhibited in the pages of major international publications and on the walls of galleries and museums across the globe.

Today, Bloch lives with his wife and two children in southern California.

(Biographie par : http://wolfgangbloch.com/ )

ANDY DAVIS

Andy Davis was born in California and grew up between San Diego and Orange Counties.  Art became a part of his life at a very young age, after hours of play, he would recreate his experiences of the day by drawing them with crayons.  Later doodling became Andy’s escape from the classroom; he dreamed of being on his skateboard, or at the beach surfing.  After high-school he was accepted to art school and attempted to play by the rules, however, he felt trapped all over again.  This time he was old enough to do things his way so he made the unconventional decision to leave school for good.  After years of drawing freedom on paper, Andy had his first real taste and the truth is, he liked it.

Soon after leaving art school, he took his college savings and started his first clothing company named after his newfound independence: “free.” His success was swift, the brand quickly pulled on talent such as Brad Gerlach and Donavan Frankenreiter. However, the popularity of the clothing was dwarfed by Andy’s youth & in-experience at running a business. “Free clothing” closed its doors in 1996 but served as a launching pad for Andy’s career as an artist which has been a dreamy one. He is still designing clothes today under the name of  “Ando & Friends.” The brand supplies beach wear to the thousands of cult followers who have remained loyal to Andy’s clothing since the 90’s. Wearing Andy’s clothing makes one feel like they are part of something.  Some say “When I wear a “bird-fish”  t-shirt, I not only tell the world that I am free & and easy going but I also make a small statement that I, like Andy, stand for something . . . something simple and good. 

Andy’s mom, Jane Davis is a practicing artist in Santa Fe, NM  and his brother Zack Davis, in brooklyn NY, is a master sculptor; art just runs in Andy’s blood. Davis currently lives in Encinitas, CA with his wife, Ashley and son Noah. He is a devoted surfer who spends his days at the beach, designing clothing, traveling and preparing for art shows around the world.

Artists Statement

"My art is a daydream. I get lost in the process of painting and drawing; it is the only part of my life that has never had rules. Every person that sees my work has a different interpretation of the meaning and I like it that way. "

JEFF DIVINE

The Seventies birthed a new generation of surfers, with a new language, new attitude and--with the advent of the short board--a new way of surfing. Like Grannis in the decade before him, Divine captured the time in a comprehensive, on-the-spot fashion. This was the decade of Hippies, long hair, Mexican wedding shirts and bell bottoms. Santana, The Dead, Steppenwolf and the Stones were on the stereo, hallucinogenic drugs and free love were everywhere and Vietnam had left an entire generation of disillusioned youth. And for those surfers making (or non-making) a life for themselves on the swells on the North Shore, that culture was apparent, but with one distinguishing factor: their prized possessions were their garage-made surfboards all lined up in the side yard. That was what mattered most. 

According to Divine, "It was all about the karma you had, that and going with the flow. We really believed that when the surf was on that's what it was all about: good vibes actually caused good waves to happen. I surfed first and then shot photos. As things got more serious, I shot first and surfed later."

Photographing the second generation of surfers, Divine impressively captures the feeling of being on the beach during its most creative era and at the inception of a subculture too large and photogenic to stay down long.

Growing up in La Jolla, Jeff Divine began taking pictures of fellow surfers in his hometown during the 1960s and got to know the original alternative sport before the mainstream media blew it into the commercial kingdom it has now come to be. His photo focus took him into a staff position in 1971 with Surfer Magazine, where he would begin the first of some 35 annual trips to the North Shore. In 1981, Divine would become the Photo Editor of the magazine, a position he held for the next 16 years. Today, Divine is the Photo Editor at The Surfer's Journal and continues to contribute to Surfer.

JOHN SEVERSON

John Severson, créateur de SURFER Magazine, a grandi en faisant du surf sur les plages de Californie du Sud ou il a commencé sa carrière, en 1950, comme artiste  peintre, en vendant ses premières oeuvres tout en finissant ses études.

 En 1958, John a utilisé son art, photographies et passion  du surf pour créer une série de film, Surf Safari, Surf Fever,

Big Wednesday, et Pacific Vibration.

Au fil  des ans, John a continué une carrière   dans la photographie avec des parutions dans Life, Sports illustrated, Paris Match, Stern depuis l'île de Maui où il continue a exercer son art.  

John Severson regorge de créativité.

Chaque trait sur ses oeuvres de la plus petite esquisse,  au plus grand coup de brosse  sur une peinture à l'huile est le reflet de sa vie et de celle de l'évolution de notre sport. 

L'exposition vous promènera dans l'univers de john à travers une cinquantaine d'oeuvres variées , photos, aquarelles, posters de film de surf, "block prints", acryliques,lithographies.