Artist Jeff Muhs & Westhampton Dunes
Through the 1990's, artist Jeff Muhs lived in Westhampton Dunes and watched and experienced an extraodinary sequence of events that reshaped the natural environment. These experiences had a profound impact on the artist and became the core of the inspiration for his work.
Muhs translates his inspiration into a timeless, universal aesthetic that has been widely received around the country. Gaining national exposure and establishing a strong presence in the art community has led to his continued success. Muhs is exhibiting in many US cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Santa Fe, Memphis, and Portland as well as here in Southampton and East Hampton.
Westhampton Dunes is a two mile stretch of barrier beach that seperates Moriches bay from the Atlantic Ocean on Eastern Long Island, NY. Surrounded by marshes and tidal flats and abundant in natural reserves, the Westhampton Dunes provide an ideal setting to capture the beauty of the East End.
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The barrier beach which had remained closed for a period time, eventually was reopened to residents. This is when Jeff Muhs had moved into a small house that had to be excavated from tons of sand. An avid fisherman, Jeff Muhs began to spend most of his time exploring the new landscape by kayak. Virgin marshes and tidal flats exposed themselves and the unobstructed vistas revealed the amazing beauty of light, sky, water, and horizon. From this perspective Jeff witnessed the particular scenes and extraodinary events that shaped his artistic aesthetic. |
In December of 1992, the storm known only as the Nor' easter, raged into eastern Long Island and nearly wiped out the section of barrier beach that is now known as Westhamtpon Dunes. The Atlantic Ocean conected with Moriches Bay and more than 50 homes were completely destroyed and many others were left barley standing or burried by the sand and water. These homes, telephone poles, and trees were washed away leaving a unique, nearly barren landscape with 360 degrees of unobstructed horizon.
Witness
I bore witness to The Birth of Venus in a screaming marsh
shielded from a gale by a high dune.
I yelled out: who lit the trial fire
and reveled while it burned.
I watched waters rise beneath crystalline
skies
I knew the glory that is the death of a day.
When God had his moment upon the Earth
my reflection blazed primordial pools.
I saw wonder past the perception of time...
sublime.
Jeff Muhs
Continue to review these links to see how the events of Westhampton Dunes relate to the artwork of Jeff Muhs.
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