Ron Church | Surf 1960-1965

Quint Contemporary Art in collaboration with Joseph Bellows Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of photographic works by legendary surf photographer Ron Church. The show will open to the public with a reception on October 6th, from 6 to 9 pm and closes on November 11, 2006.

The exhibit will contain black and white prints by the legendary photographer Ron Church and will also coincide with Quint gallery's 25th anniversary celebration. This will be the first exhibition of works by Ron Church at Quint Contemporary Art.

Photographing in the early and mid 1960s Church recorded the last days of an era when surfing was truly amateur. Church grew up in the southern California area and spent countless hours in and around the water photographing the newly found surf culture.

With a magical creative eye Church became fascinated by the sea and soon became a noted underwater photographer and cinematographer, working alongside such greats as Jacques Cousteau. Church also did considerable underwater photography for Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Sea World San Diego, and the U.S. Department of Interior. He published a number of written works; the most highly celebrated among the surf culture was Surfer's Guide To Hawaii, which he co-wrote with legendary oceanographer and surfer Ricky Grigg.

During his impressive career, Church received many major awards and honors for his work: Underwater Photographer of the Year at the International Underwater Film Festival in Santa Monica, CA (1963); NOGI Award for Arts from The Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences (1973); the first Scott Carpenter Award, and many others.