A stunning exhibit of ocean and surfing-related photography is at Bird Rock’s CenterLight Gallery of La Jolla through the end of March. “The Wave” show will feature the photographic works of Warren Bolster, one of the most gifted surf photographers in the last 35 years. The exhibit, which will run through April, showcases stellar images from Hawaii, Tahiti, Fiji and the San Diego area that were handpicked by Bolster, along with ocean-related oil paintings by artists Lorrie Blackard and Maria Repke.
Warren Bolster first made a name for himself in the mid-1970s with a workaholic approach to getting innovative angles and action photos of both surfing and skateboarding. At the time, he was serving as senior photographer and both associate editor at Surfer magazine and editor of Skateboarder magazine during that sport’s big boom with the advent of urethane wheels. He actually credited San Diego for starting off his photographic career when he first moved here from the East Coast in the early ’70s. “For ocean photography, with kelp-glassy surf and relatively clear water, it was like heaven on earth,” Bolster said in a past interview.
Later, he sought out new perspectives using helicopters for rarely seen views of Hawaiian big-wave riders, along with camera-mounted surfboards for amazing images of surfers riding deep in the bowels of tubing waves as seen from behind the rider. Utilizing world-class surfers and surf breaks such as Tavarua, Fiji, Teahupoo (pronounced cho-pu), Tahiti and the Pipeline in Hawaii, the results are spectacular.
In recent years, he worked to capture intimate, colorful combinations of above-and-below sea-level views with crystal-clear, tropical waves that convey his deep artistic approach. Two recently published books feature his iconic skateboard images and his vast wealth of ocean photography.
Tragically, Bolster passed away from suicide at age 59 last September in Hawaii, after years of suffering with anxiety and depression and struggling with arthritis pain medication addiction. However, he was most happy when he was involved in his craft, and some brilliant examples will be on display, including local images from La Jolla, Black’s Beach and Encinitas.
“Warren’s work is so beautiful,” said CenterLight Gallery’s Maria Repke. “The whole show will feature the ocean and that environment, which we should all be concerned about and involved with. It will be a very watery show!”
The CenterLight Gallery of La Jolla is located at 5490 La Jolla Blvd., Suite A. For more information about “The Wave” exhibit, call (858) 456-8188.
