The Montauk Beach House will be featuring photographer Alberto Guglielmi’s new SurferDNA exhibition from Friday, August 2, until Wednesday, August 14. The opening reception will take place that Friday in the lobby of the Beach House from 8 to 10 p.m.
The series of photographs were inspired by a love for surfing and a desire to assist the communities affected by Hurricane Sandy. Guglielmi brought together a large and eclectic cast of accomplished individuals, including chef Sam Talbot, artist Richard Phillips, writer Julia Chaplin, and actor AnnaSophia Robb, who all share a common passion for surfing.
Using a total of 39 individuals, Guglielmi created a piece that he described as “a visual allegory for the change that occurs when someone becomes a surfer: it doesn’t just affect your life; it becomes part of your DNA. Whether in or out of the water, a surfer’s tie to the ocean is always present.”
In an interesting, artistic twist, Guglielmi attached artificial fins to each subject, later removing the Velcro straps in post-production editing. The final effect made the fins appear to blend seamlessly with the subject’s body, reflecting Gugliemi’s philosophies concerning an individual’s relationship with surfing and the board itself.
“The board becomes an extension of one’s self,” he explained, “the means by which they make a connection to the water, both physically and spiritually.”
Each portrait exhibited at the Montauk Beach House will also be available for purchase at $500. All proceeds will be donated directly to Waves for Water’s Sandy Relief Initiative (www.wavesforwater.org) to help those still in need.
The exhibit can be viewed in its entirety at www.albertog.com.
The Montauk Beach House is located at 55 South Elmwood Avenue. For more information call 631-668-2112 or visit thembh.com.