Ocean Swim Photography

Manly Arts Festival 2011

Ocean Swim Photography Exhibition at Red Earth Cafe, Short Street Plaza, Manly

When: 2-18 of September
(During Cafe Hours of Operation)
Where:  Red Earth Cafe Manly - Short Street Plaza

‘Ocean Swim Photography’, part of the Manly Arts Festival 2011, is a photographic exhibition capturing the beauty of ocean swimming in photography.

Image makers capture the wonder and beauty of old and young conquering the oceans in different weather conditions while showcasing a different view of the amazing Northern Beaches.

Fascinated by the sport of ocean swimming, Manly Artist & Curator of ‘Ocean Swim Photography Exhibition’ Angela van Boxtel decided at the start of 2011 to join the ‘swimming gang’ and discover the passion behind its fascination. About every beach on the Northern Beaches has its own Ocean Swim event. One of the oldest is the >> Big Swim from Palm Beach to Whale Beach, a whopping 2.8 km swim and one of the largest is the >> Manly Coles Classic with over 4.1000 participants. 

Swimmers Young and Old, Bold and Beautiful

The young, the old, the bold and the beautiful transverse the ocean under a variety of conditions, from challenging waves, the rain, the cold & stingy blue bottle creatures to a possibility of shark attack. Eventually it’s the beauty of the ocean & the ability to surrender to its wavering nature that fascinates many swimmers.

"On a clear day with a perfect water temperature, while cruising and floating along, within and above the most amazing local marine habitat’s available, you closely feel that heaven on earth is actually there right here and now, in that moment" accordingly to Angela Van Boxtel, the artist swimmer curating the exhibition.

Van Boxtel currently ranks number 104 in NSW for having swum the longest distance of over 7000 registered >> Ocean Swimmers in 2011, quite an achievement for a newby.

With other words she admits to having become an ‘ocean swim ‘addict. She discovered the beauty of beaches and places she never heard of and seen before including a swim from Coalcliff to Stanwell Park a2.4km along the foot of the Illawarra Escarpment and as far north as Pacific Palms.

The artist swimmer even won a trip to Hamilton Island to compete in the Fuji White Haven Beach Ocean Swim in November.

‘The most beautiful aspect of the Ocean Swimming is the wonderful people you meet along the way,’ says van Boxtel.

While the Artist is just starting at 46 she looks forward to many more years of exciting swims to come and hopes to turn into one of those beautiful elderly swimmers such as local >> John Kelso, who at 81 is one of the oldest of the Australian ocean swim fraternity and only started the competitive ocean swimming at 65.

Proving you’re never too old to try something new and stick to your new year’s resolutions.

Ocean Swim Photography Exhibition at Red Earth Cafe
Short Street Plaza, Manly

When: Fri 2 - Sun 18 Sept, during opening hours

Follow the personal journey of Ocean Swimming by Swimmer & Artist Angela van Boxtel at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ocean-Swims/127400247316809  

Manly Arts Festival Manly Art Gallery & Museum

02 9976 1421

Ocean Swim Photography is curated by www.angelavanboxtel.com