This exhibition is a light-hearted, humorous and sometimes bleak look at what it was like to grow up in the Gisborne surf culture in the 1970s. A time of 501 Jeans, Twin Fins, Friday Night Shopping and the emergence of Disco and Punk Rock Music. Sun bleached hair, tanned and blistered bodies and rusty old cars were the norm. The surf culture was misogynistic in nature where girls were definitely discouraged from surfing and the powers that be discouraged surfing altogether.

Each painting is accompanied by a short story or poem written by the artist Clayton Gibson. These stories provide an insight into how the artist navigated these years as a teenager, growing up.

Clayton Gibson likes to make artwork that is easy for the viewer to “get”, art works that resonate with people and starts conversation. His work is usually populated with references from Aotearoa history and cultural experiences drawn from his interaction with others who share his love of the ocean and coastal communities.