How does the sea inspire her unique art?

PRINCETON, N.J. – The artist who invites others to take a closer look at nature recently

collaborated with poets to present her close-up “Gifts from the Sea” artwork at Millstone River Gallery.

Fine Art and Nature Photographer Tasha O’Neill draws attention to the often-overlooked aspects of our surroundings through the macro lenses of her camera, and now has an exhibit where she collaborates with the Cool Women Poets.

Currently, O’Neill’s exhibition at Princeton’s Millstone River Gallery called
“Gifts from the Sea” features her recent discoveries of dried and very sculptural seaweed offerings during low tide at sea. The poets matched each image on display with their poems.

The exhibition, which opened Mar. 10, will run through May 9. The gallery held their opening reception last Friday. The public listened to the poets read their poems, while they also admired the seaweed art, and purchased signed books, among other activities.

“The opening was very successful. We had many visitors who were both fans of mine and of the poets,” said O’Neill.

“They marveled at the beauty that was inaccessible to most people especially when at low (sea) tide. They loved the colors and composition and the way the pieces were hung together,” she states.

She continued that, “While the poets had their readings, visitors crowded around the provided seating area and even sat on the stairs going up. It was a rousing success. Books and note cards were sold and the food at the reception was appreciated.”

O’Neill spends her summers on the Maine Coast close to Acadia National Park. She “recalls a day in 2012 when the full moon created an historic low tide and revealed never-before-seen seaweed of such beauty that she had to capture it before the tide rose again.”

Always curious about sea creatures in tide pools, O’Neill finds that the Maine Coast has both tide pools and the abundance of seaweed of every color and variety that inspire her current unique artwork.

Last summer, O’Neill discovered the beauty of wet and dried seaweed. She randomly plucked clumps off the beach, as she studied their shapes and designed various artworks from them.

“Her most successful find turned out to look like a dancer now named ‘Balanchine.’” She adorned a bouquet-like form with small cranberries, bright green hop flowers, and the lacy white blossom of wild carrot.

The Cool Women Poets wrote poems that each image inspires. The poems make the images come alive, states Millstone River Gallery’s Curator Sheila Geisler.

For example, there are poems called “Grandmother’s Pin” by Lois Marie Harrod, and “Tide Pool” by Sharon Olsen.

“I am blessed to have known the Cool Women Poets for years, and am thrilled they chose to exhibit with me. My images will come alive through their poetry,” O’Neill notes.

She states that with their collaboration, she always has memorable titles for her images.

O’Neill’s other photography work has been exhibited at Grounds of Sculpture, Bristol Myers-Squibb, Capital Health, and D&R Greenway Land Trust in solo, group and juried shows.