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Atlantic Blues - Paintings from the Edge
Summary
This article describes artist June Julian's Atlantic Blues painting series, which uses the genre of marine painting to visually represent ocean degradation from pollution and climate change. The work argues that contemporary marine art should reflect environmental realities alongside the beauty of the ocean.
Is it time for a new aesthetic for the traditional genre of marine painting – one that reflects the contemporary realities of worldwide ocean degradation? In her recent series, Atlantic Blues- Paintings from the Edge, artist June Julian celebrates the ocean in all of its power and magnificence, but also sings the blues about our abuses of it. She suggests a new perspective for painting the sea, one that recognizes climate change data, pollution and ocean dumping. Maybe you can hear the crashing waves, smell the tangy brine, and taste the salty air when you look at her paintings. But, environmental impacts and insults coexist along with its sublime beauty. In the canvasses on view, gorgeous, breathtaking clouds and waves contrast with disquieting scenarios: raging advancing tides, microplastics and data points, and an entire discarded New York City subway train, one of hundreds discarded offshore.