ON MARCH 12 & 13, 2025, OCEAN ART GALLERY, ORMOND BEACH, FL, WILL HOST A TWO-DAY EXHIBITION OF COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY ON METAL BY CHRIS GUG, A WORLD-RENOWN UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHER. ALL ART IN THE PROGRAM WILL REPRESENT GUG’S VARIED TRAVELS TO FIND THE MOST FASCINATING AND BEAUTIFUL IMAGES FROM THE UNDERSEA WORLD, HENCE THE SHOW’S TITLE “ART OF THE OCEAN.”
THE TWO-NIGHT EXHIBIT WILL START AT 5:30 PM EACH NIGHT, WITH CHRIS GUG PRESENTING A 30-MINUTE TALK ABOUT HIS ART AT 6:00 PM. FOLLOWING THE TWO-NIGHT PROGRAM, GUG’S ART WILL REMAIN IN EXHIBIT THROUGH JULY 31ST, WITH SEVERAL PHOTOGRAPHS PLANNED TO BE ADDED BY GALLERY DIRECTOR FRANK GROMLING.
Chris Gug was selected to be the March special event shortly after Gromling arranged for “The Lost Weekend – The Photography of May Pang” show for January 21 & 22. Gromling knew then that he wanted to have a major artist to be featured at Ocean Art Gallery every other month in 2025. He, and wife/gallery partner Bibi, set out to find the best talent in the world for March and beyond. Chris Gug readily came to mind.
They had seen his work in Gug’s beautiful gallery in Lauderdale by the Sea and Frank had spoken with Gug previously about being featured in Ormond Beach. He made the call and everything rapidly came together to make Gug’s March appearance in Ormond Beach his first ever in an art gallery in Volusia or Flagler County.
Chris Gug and Frank Gromling have something very much in common besides their love of art. It is their love of the ocean. While Chris turned his love into a successful photographic career, Gromling followed his heart by being an active volunteer in critical research projects that help protect selected species. For example, twenty-five years in North Atlantic Right Whale research along the North Florida Coast, including the publishing of Frank’s Whales, brought Frank into contact with famous conservationists, including Jean-Michel Cousteau, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Dr. James H. W. Haine, and others. Gug’s art and Gromling’s gallery were meant to be together.
Frank and Bibi Gromling are preparing the gallery for a large audience, similar to the response they experienced from Central Florida art lovers for the May Pang exhibit in January when hundreds of people attended that two-day event. While Gug may not be a John Lennon-like character, collectors know how much the art world loves Gug’s ability to capture the most startling, beautiful, and often other-worldly images from under ocean surfaces.
The March 12-13 Gug event is free, Chris will meet with guests, and light refreshments will be served. If you have questions, reach out to (386) 317-9400.
