North Shore Arrival
Artist
John Severson
(1933 - 2017)
Datec. 1998
MediumAcrylic on board
Dimensions36 x 36"
ClassificationsPainting
Credit LineGift of the Hilbert Collection
Object number2021.071
DescriptionThis painting was produced in about 1998 and is part of John Severson’s “Surf Safari” Series. Each of the works in this series depicts surfers in vehicles checking out the surf at various surf spots in California and Hawaii. In this case, it is Sunset Beach on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, which is the location of some of the biggest surfing waves in the world. The really huge-looking wave is meant to represent how it feels when you see the monster surf hit the North Shore, as opposed to exactly how it looks.John Severson was a surfer, editor, author, photographer, filmmaker and fine artist who founded the iconic Surfer magazine. He is widely acknowledged as the first person to produce a series of paintings devoted to surf culture imagery.
Severson's paintings were first exhibited in the mid-1950s at Long Beach State College to complete his Master of Fine Arts degree. Since then they have been exhibited widely in museums and galleries, including an exhibition at the Hilbert Museum of surfing-related works by Severson and Rick Griffin in 2017, curated by Gordon McClelland.
Severson remained a dedicated surfer and continued to produce surf-related art until he passed away in 2017 -- sadly, shortly before the Hilbert exhibition opened. His widow and daughter traveled here from Hawaii to view the exhibition and to reminisce about John.
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