A major theme for artist and OMAA founder Henry Strater (1896-1987) was what he called “the disorganized abundance of Mother Nature.” Strater was an avid hunter, fisherman, ‘polar bear’ swimmer, and adventurer. He kept pace with his friend Ernest Hemingway on globetrotting hunting and fishing expeditions, including the 1935 outing from Bimini rumored to have inspired Hemingway’s 1952 novel The Old Man and the Sea, from which this exhibition takes its title. In hunting themed still life paintings of the 1930s, as well as in flower filled coastal landscapes of the 1960s, Strater’s observations reflect his passion for outdoor activities and are rendered in a signature brushwork as bold as his lifestyle. Through paintings, historic photographs, and personal memorabilia, I’ll Bring the Luck with Me: Hunting and Fishing with Henry Strater examines the connection between his occupation as a painter and his life as a sportsman. This exhibition brings together diverse works from various periods of Strater’s oeuvre, including Goldeneye Drakes (1933), which appeared in OMAA’s inaugural 1953 season, and The Bait Stealers, painted in Florida in 1966.
This exhibition was organized by Andy Ritzo and the Curatorial staff of the Ogunquit Museum of American Art, and is generously sponsored by Barnacle Billy’s.
