The Art of Water: Josef Kote Returns to Ocean Galleries with a Splashy Exhibit
Drawn to Greatness
What draws us to the water surrounding our shores?
Is the water a window, allowing us to peek at infinity, serenity, power, and grace?
Is the water a mirror reflecting light, absorbing shade, and amplifying our joy, against a horizon that never changes yet never stays the same?
Whatever “it” is that attracts us to the sea, Josef Kote has miraculously captured it in his latest exhibit, “Water.” Featuring 20 new, original paintings created exclusively for the show, “Water” debuts at Ocean Galleries on June 28 and runs through July 5, with special receptions with the artist on July 1 and 2.
“These paintings are incredible,” says Ocean Galleries owner Kim Miller. “I’m looking forward to people coming and seeing them in person because they represent Josef Kote at his finest. Photos don’t do them justice. He just amazes me.”
Another amazing aspect of the “Water” exhibit is that the paintings are more than just inspired by Seven Mile Beach. They are truly depictions of the sights and scenes of our shoreline. Each one is brimming with glorious color and inspired brushstrokes, by a remarkable talent whose affinity for our shores radiates off the canvas.
Like the slippery nature of water itself, Kote’s paintings are hard to quantify. They are classic and contemporary. Clearly realistic and distinctly abstract. The images are familiar and uniquely fresh. Like the ceaseless beat of water meeting shoreline, a painting by Josef Kote is, in a word: timeless.
Known for his ability to combine gentle brushstrokes with bold swipes of a palette knife, Kote is also a master of color. His ability to create and blend colors to convey the sunset sky, the crashing wave, the rippling rivulet is unrivaled. The “Water” exhibit’s “Silver Ripples” painting showcases a mélange of colors and white fringes along rippling water in the foreground, giving way to deepening shades of blue, green, turquoise, and teal that are never one color, but somehow every shade at once.
“When you look at his paintings, the amount of colors in any one area will amaze you,” says Miller. “He is one of those artists whose work you can look at many times, and constantly see something different. The way he places colors on the canvas, the way some is blended and some is raised, it’s exciting to look at. They’re expressionistic. They’re beautiful.”
“Serene Skies” is one of many paintings in the exhibit that exemplifies Kote’s ability to not simply harness an image, but to convey sheer energy. With the recognizable Avalon Fishing Pier in the distance, the painting captures the cacophony of color and joyful chaos that occurs on the beach under the clearest of blue skies. By contrast, “Last Summer” is a study in anticipation, with a beach pathway both coaxing you toward the water and inviting you to linger. The painting hovers in the balance of expectation and contentment.
“Water” marks Kote’s seventh exhibit at Ocean Galleries, one of only three galleries in the nation he has selected to represent his work. In fact, Kote’s relationship with Ocean Galleries is exactly what affords him the time and proximity to gather inspiration for new paintings.
“When he was here for his exhibit last year, we took Josef and his wife, Sandra, to explore the different beaches in Avalon and Stone Harbor,” Miller says. “They walked down the beaches, strolled along the jetty, went to Stone Harbor Point, and saw a lot of the area. As a result, he was able to create these brand-new paintings. To constantly create new subject matter can be a challenge, but Josef meets it every single time.”
Miller is also impressed by Kote’s ability to continually refine his brilliant abilities: “He just keeps getting better at techniques and combining techniques. How he does his backgrounds and colors, how brushstrokes transition into a thick palette knife for the water and sand. These paintings are so gorgeous.”
For the Oceans Galleries owner, showcasing Kote’s work and providing an opportunity for people to meet and discuss his work with him goes well beyond merely hosting an exhibit.
“It’s a dream come true for me,” she says. “My objective with this gallery and what we’ve been building for the last 35 to 40 years has been to bring artists and art to people in the area. This is a small, beachy town, and we are one of the main galleries for Josef Kote. We are bringing something to this town that is so unique and unusual. It makes me proud because I was raised here. This is my town. This is my family’s town. My kids work with me. This is something that is part of our lives and what we do every day. So, when we get this response from an artist, it’s because of everything we believe in.”
And Miller and Kote share the strong belief that art can enhance lives.
“I think it’s something we both seek: to bring art to people so that it brings them joy and happiness,” she says. “That is my main goal. As long as people come in and they’re happy leaving with something that they put on their wall, and it constantly brings them some kind of joy – that is good enough for me. But having Josef be part of that just makes me ecstatic. And people truly respond to his work.”
In fact, Miller says that patrons begin inquiring about the Kote exhibit as soon as winter begins to thaw: “In early spring, people start filtering in and getting their properties ready for the season, and their first question is, ‘When is the Josef Kote show?’ People gravitate toward him.”
And people will surely gravitate to Ocean Galleries to see Kote’s exclusive “Water” exhibit June 28 to July 5. Miller herself could not be more enthusiastic about the show. When asked what patrons can expect to see, her answer is quite simple: “These paintings are the best I’ve ever seen.”
Josef Kote’s “Water” Exhibit at Ocean Galleries
Just the Facts
Who: Artist Josef Kote was born and raised in Albania, where he decided to pursue a career as a painter at a very young age. After eight years of extensive training at the National Lyceum of Arts and the National Academy of Arts in the capital city of Tirana, Kote launched an enormously successful career as an artist that has taken him to countries, cities, and regions, around the world. Heavily influenced by his surroundings, Kote absorbs the sense of “place” wherever he goes, then uses his distinct artistic vision, genius with color, and mastery of technique to create paintings that are both one of a kind, and universally admired.
What: “Water” exhibit featuring an exclusive collection of original artworks depicting local vistas.
Where: Ocean Galleries. 9618 Third Ave., Stone Harbor
When:
Exhibit: June 28 to July 5. Art will be on display throughout these dates and patrons are welcome to peruse the paintings exhibit any time during store hours.
Receptions with the artist: July 1 & 2 from 7-10pm. Event is complimentary and open to the public, though RSVP is strongly suggested.
How: RSVP for artist receptions at oceangalleries.com or by calling 609-368-7777. Walk-ins welcome as well.
