Anna Franklin’s “Under the Sea” Opens at Crazy Monkey Gallery
August 14th through August 31st, 2014
Opening Reception: Saturday, August 16, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Crazy Monkey Gallery is located at 136 Main Street, Amagansett, NY 11930
“Under the Sea” presents new paintings by Anna Franklin of East Hampton, NY. The exhibition features paintings depicting landscapes of a different sort—those found under the seas. Expect to discover art with an emphasis on Angel Fish, sea corals, anemones, jellyfish and others as well as “imaginary” dwellers, such as a small mermaid.
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"Emerald Lagoon" by Anna Franklin. Painting on silk, 67 x 33 inches.
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The new series was inspired by memories of a childhood spent in Italy.
“I lived in a town on the Adriatic Sea in Italy, during my childhood and adolescent years,” said Franklin. “My home faced the harbor on the left and a beautiful rocky beach on the right. I had five brothers who were all fishermen at the time. Being the last one in a family of eight (and being born after a considerable age gap), I was the kid who ran errands for mamma, such as going down to the dock to pick up the pail of fish for the evening meal of ‘zuppa di pesce’.”
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"Under The Sea" by Anna Franklin. Watercolor on canvas.
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“While American kids set up their lemonade stand, a lot of us kids in Italy, caught crabs on the rocks near us and boiled them for selling. I was always shy about that and did not participate directly in such enterprises. One tedious chore I was given to do to help was to bring a basket of fresh octopus to the rocks and tenderize them in order to either grill them or to eat them as "crudités" with lemon and olive oil. A hometown "specialty" which, today, Americanized as I am, do not eat anymore!
“One activity I did enjoy was going with a relative in a row boat and fish for sea urchins. The shallow waters of the Adriatic with the bottom rocks made ideal places for the breeding of sea urchins.
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"Clownfish and Anemones" by Anna Franklin. Acrylic on canvas.
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“We had a metal cylinder with a magnifying lens at the bottom and a long pole of about 10 foot which allowed us to scoop the urchins up from their beds and put them in a net hanging from the side of the boat. I still love the taste of the urchins eaten with lemon and a piece of bread to scoop them up!! A treat not to be found here.
“When you make a living from the sea, you learn very quickly to respect it and I remember some very anxious times passed in waiting for a boat caught in a storm which might not return. However, the strongest memories I have are that of joy, of wonder, of awe for the beauty and variety of life found under the sea.
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"Coral Reef 2" by Anna Franklin. Acrylic on canvas.
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"Coral Reef 1" by Anna Franklin. Acrylic on canvas.
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“Still today, you will find me mesmerized in front of a National Geographic show which might show the incredible life, colors, shapes, variety of sea creatures and marine plants which can rival the flora above!! The sea has a very strong pull for me and it sparks my imagination into thinking of the mysteries that it might hold below!
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"So Happy Together" by Anna Franklin. Acrylic on canvas.
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“With this series of paintings, I wanted to connect with the beautiful life in it, the colorful side of it and pay homage to my childhood years as well. Even though I can close my eyes and feel the sting of a jelly fish or the bite of a crab, I smile at these memories which populate my love for the sea and its creatures, both real and imaginary.”
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"Sea Urchins, Little Mermaid and Friends" by Anna Franklin. Acrylic on canvas.
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BASIC FACTS: "Under the Sea" - A new series of paintings by Anna Franklin is exhibited from August 14 to 31, 2014 at Crazy Monkey Gallery. An Opening Reception takes place on Saturday, August 16, from 5 to 7 p.m. The gallery is also exhibiting works by member artists. The Crazy Monkey Gallery is located at 136 Main Street, Amagansett, NY 11930. www.thecrazymonkeygallery.com.
The gallery is open Thursdays through Mondays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information, call 631-267-3627.
RELATED: To see more artwork, visit Hamptons Art Hub Artist Directory: Anna Franklin.
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