A 'Summer' Exhibition for Dinah Maxwell Smith

The paintings of Southampton artist Dinah Maxwell Smith are on view now in an exhibition in the Madelle Hegeler Semerjian Gallery on the lower level of Rogers Memorial Library. The show opened with a reception on Wednesday, August 7, from 5 to 7 p.m. and will run through August 31.

Titled “Summer,” the work on view was inspired by the seasonal sights of life by the sea that have captured Smith’s imagination.

“I liked how the light fell on a friend’s laundry line and photographed her husband’s T-shirts blowing in the wind, which I then painted,” explained Smith in an artist’s statement. “I also did a companion painting of her laundry — bra, panties, tank top, nightgown,” she continued. “I painted seagulls in Southampton and Narragansett, Rhode Island; two men, lost in the blue of Narragansett Bay and some people under a slightly misshapen blue floral beach umbrella at the beach in Southampton.

“About five years ago, a friend took underwater photographs of her children in their pool. I was intrigued. I wondered if I could do a painting of that,” Smith continued. “Usually, underwater painters are hyper-realists and paint every bubble, which I like to look at in a painting, but that is not what I want to paint. So I did a series of my friend’s children and I was quite happy with the results. I like trying new directions, seeking new viewpoints.”

Dinah Maxwell Smith has shown at galleries across the East End and twice at the Parrish Art Museum, including the “Artists Choose Artists” show in 2016 when her work was chosen by photographer Tina Barney. She has also shown extensively in New York City and Europe.

Rogers Memorial Library is at 91 Coopers Farm Road in Southampton. Hours are Monday to Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 9:30 to 7 p.m., Saturday 9:30 to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.