Ahead of the much-anticipated June 7th opening of Andrew Nelson Photography at the Atlantic Farms Gallery in Thomaston, which also marks our shop’s two-year anniversary, a small crew from the AF team made the trek to Vinalhaven Island to visit Andy, get to know him better, and plan for the upcoming show.
It was classic moody Maine- socked in and gray. You couldn’t see past the first few moorings in the harbor. The ferry shoved off at 8:45 sharp- as they say, “the boat doesn’t wait for anyone.” The 13-mile ride takes just over an hour, the perfect span of time to let your brain and body shift into island time. Having spent much of our lives on islands, Rocco and I have a bit of that inner pirate/fishmonger in us, and these surroundings felt like home. It was our first time on Vinalhaven; Angela knew the island well, but it was her first time visiting Andy on his home turf.
As we entered the harbor, a pair of loons were fishing, lingering late on their seasonal journey back to the ponds. Andy greeted us at the ferry with a warm welcome and quickly ushered us off the landing before we jammed up the exodus of the one trash truck making its daily trip to the island.
Just a few blocks from the ferry was our first stop- the Nelson family workshop. A one-room classic with a woodstove crackling in the corner, warming up the raw island morning. The shack sits just feet from the harbor, and the sounds of lobstermen working on their gear drifted through the air. The space was layered with trinkets, tools, and treasures from the island and the many people who had passed through it.
Andy shared some of his family’s history on the island. His ancestors settled in Vinalhaven back when Maine was still technically part of Massachusetts. His grandfather was a prominent lobster broker until tough times in the 1960s led him to move his family to central Mass. Andy grew up splitting time between there and Vinalhaven before making the island his permanent home about five years ago, around the same time he dove deep into photography and the natural world of the island and coast.
After we broke bread and heard the backstory, we made our way to the local coffee shop. The shopkeeper let us know she was pretty much cleaned out of baked goods but had a fresh pot of jet fuel ready for our mugs. The building, owned by Andy’s uncle, is home to the coffee shop, a convenience store, and a breakfast joint, all stitched together on the dock.
Andy led us around back to a small hoist room once used to offload fish from the boats. He’s since converted it into his dreamy studio space: Studio 24, an homage to his high school football jersey number. The one-room waterfront studio had a psychedelic dock-artist vibe and showcased a large collection of Andy’s photos, all taken in and around Vinalhaven. Displayed in the environment where they were captured, the images held a surreal weight and a rooted sense of place. We were all excited to pick our favorites, some of which we hope to see hanging at Atlantic Farms next month for Andy’s first off-island show.
From Studio 24, we crossed the island to check out some of Andy’s favorite places. Rocco couldn’t resist a quick stop at the quarry after Andy told us it had produced the state record rainbow trout. No jumbo rainbows took interest in our wooly bugger that day, though. Defeated but smiling, we headed to State Beach, a rocky cove that’s Andy’s favorite spot on the island and the site of some of his most beloved captures. He told us the story of racing out to the point during a nor’easter to shoot the high seas, in his pajamas, half his face frozen from sea spray.
Andy’s connection to the natural world, cannabis, and photography has given him a new lease on life after surviving a near-fatal battle with alcohol addiction.
Next, we visited his more recent work on display at his friend Tom’s studio. Tom recently moved to the island and bought the home of a longtime Vinalhaven painter. The backyard houses an artist’s sanctuary studio, and evidence of Tom’s artistic and land-stewarding skills were everywhere: the tightest woodpile you’ve ever seen, composting setups, permaculture plans, and an immaculate workspace. Andy had hung more of his recent pieces here for us to admire and help narrow down the selections for the show. We may need more wall space. Some of Andy’s proudest work was on display in various mediums, especially his ongoing project of chasing and capturing lupines in early morning light.
Our final destination was Andy’s aunt and uncle’s house, where earlier that day he had cheffed up a proper Sunday gravy- thick with sausage and meatballs. We were warmly greeted by his Aunt Sandy, who, like many in the family, split her life between the island and central Massachusetts. In 2017, Sandy coached the Vinalhaven girls’ basketball team to a state championship. She now coaches the boys, saying simply, “no one else would.” The pasta and sauce warmed our bones and capped off an amazing visit- a day full of island hospitality, family pride, and creative spirit with our new friend Andy.
We’re thrilled to return the favor and make Andy and his work feel right at home next month at the Atlantic Farms Gallery in Thomaston, opening June 7th. Expect more gravy, and meatballs for all.
