SURF ISLAND: A Ride with Newport's Surf Community

Photographs by Jason Evans
June 5 - September 6, 2010
Members' Reception June 18

Jason Evans Greg - Dawn Patrol, 2008 C-print; 40 x 32 in.

Photographer Jason Evans grew up "landlocked" and didn't discover surfing until he moved to Newport four years ago. The sport quickly became a passion.

As he worked on the "Surf Island" project, Evans gained new appreciation for "the tight social network that makes up Aquidneck Island's surf community and all of its great personalities, surfers and beautiful seascapes." Evans portrays the hardy, passionate, sometimes edgy corps of surfers who persevere for the love of the sport through all kinds of bad weather and less-than-perfect conditions in this corner of New England. His images capture the excitement of the ride and the devotion of those who seek it.

Evans has been involved in commercial and editorial photography since 1997, specializing in sports photography. He was one of only a handful of photographers chosen by the International Olympic Committee to photograph the Olympic Games in Vancouver.