Down By The Sea 

Jeff Jamison painted "Down By The Sea" with the language of the modern brush, capturing a scene of leisure at the water's edge. What draws my eye is the repeated motif of the beach towel, carried as a flag or shield. We can trace its lineage back to antiquity. Consider the draped fabrics in classical sculptures and Renaissance paintings. They are not mere decoration, but symbols of status and identity. Here, the beach towel serves a similar purpose. It proclaims one’s belonging to the culture of leisure, a shield against the everyday world. The act of carrying these towels evokes a primal connection to processions and ceremonies. The towel becomes a modern-day standard, carried by celebrants on their way to worship the sun and sea. It carries subconscious associations with protection and community. Such symbols are not static, but fluid, always in motion, and ready to be imbued with new meaning.