When I heard of the film premiere for Riding the Rhythms, I felt like it was a perfect match for a series of work I am currently painting.

I am a portrait painter who has focused primarily on commissioned work. I have recently begun working on a personal series that is very special to my family and I. It tells the story of my long family history of women bonding generations through a love and appreciation for the sea.

My family moved to the Philadelphia area almost one hundred years ago and ever since their arrival, trips to the coast have been a crucial piece of their lives. Blue collar workers with little money found themselves bonding along the coast lines, passing down knowledge on fishing, and crabbing over coolers packed with beers and tomato sandwiches.

In particular, the women of my family have had a strong bond, laughing and smoking cigars on the docs, basking on the shorelines, passing stories and experiences to the next generation.

I used to listen to stories of these women and their strong wills and wild demeanors. Hearing of their wild adventures, picking up sailors and partying. They were truly free. With little wealth in money, they were rich and fulfilled in the experiences they had by the ocean.

By day, the women would shuffle all the kids and gear into the cars and head over to shoreline, basking in the sun as we played.

By night, my cousin and I would run over to my aunt and uncles neighboring camp spot. Barefoot, we would arrive with pine needles and sand caked to the bottom of our feet. We would watch my Uncle Charlie (pronounced Cha-lie) clean fresh caught fish in amazement.

Now, with a daughter of my own I am passing on this same love and admiration for salt and sand. Surfing has quickly become a part of our bond and I watch in amazement as she paddles out into the huge body of water on her own. It has become a great teacher of patience and adversity that is both challenging and rewarding. I hope she finds the water as healing and peaceful as I do as she grows.

I now find myself at a point in my life where I want to honor these many years my family has spent on the coast and, in a way, say thank to my family and the ocean. I am lucky enough to have so many of these memories documented all the way back to the early forties and have begun a series, bringing life and color back into the moments.

This series is incredibly special to my family and I, documenting such a rich part of our personal history, but also what it was like for so many families who have immigrated to the east coast and laid roots in the area.

As this series grows, my goal is to capture the feelings and emotions of these moments, in each generation of women. The Jersey shore has a rich history that goes so far beyond the touristy boardwalks. This shoreline was a sanctuary to so many immigrants and families and still is very much so today.

This is an ongoing series in the works. I am sharing two pieces I completed and I am wrapping up two more. I would have a minimum of three great pieces to showcase.

Please consider including my series in this premiere night event. I think it would be a great opportunity to showcase a few of these paintings for the first time. I believe it truly fits the story and spirit of the film. I look forward to hearing from you.

Paintings included:

Aunt Rosie, 1945, oil on canvas, 24”x24”

Beach Babes, 1940s, oil on canvas, 20”x30”

Future Paintings:

Girls on the dock, 1945 (currently finishing)

Gone Fishing, 1970s

Camp Ground, 1980s

Beach Babes, 1990’s

Little surfer, 2022s (currently finishing)