"Putting out to Sea, Valencia" Artistic Collaboration

Painter Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida (February 27, 1863 - August 10, 1923) grew up on the Valencian coast of Spain studying the Mediterranean light, landscape, and modern life. The people of Spain revered Sorolla as the nation's last great traditional painter, and French Impressionist Claude Monet hailed the artist as a "master of light." Combining precision with unmixed colors and free brushwork, Sorolla’s work impressively balances the Spanish tradition of Realism with the Modernist trends of the 20th century. 

About the process: We chose a reproduction of "Putting Out To Sea, Valencia" (1908) to recreate as a collaboration. Twenty artists chose a 6" square at random to recreate the masterwork of Sorolla. Using their creative energy and talent, each artist reproduced their square in their favorite permanent art material.  Traditional oil, acrylic and watercolor paints were used as well as glass, ceramic, beads, shells, paper and wood to match the color and shapes in the original painting. Once completed, the 20 squares were reassembled and mounted on board and framed. 

A silent auction will be underway in the Arts Center @ 319 from May 1 to June 13, 2026 to raise funds for the arts center.  Bid high, bid often!

Join the Arts Center on Saturday, June 13 for a special reception with live music from 6 to 7:30 pm to recognize the participating artists in the Two if by Sea art exhibit, a wet paint sale from the Smithfield Maritime Rendezvous plein air painters works painted on this day, and the anticipated live auction for the collaborative art Putting Out to Sea, Valencia.

Admission
Free