From sea to gallery, Mashpee artist highlights Cape Cod's seafood in new exhibition

Oysters, monkfish, quahogs and white hake. At some point, you’ve seen these creatures in their oceanic homes or covered in lemon juice and served on a white porcelain plate, but have you ever wondered how they got there in the first place?

As part of the Art Barnstable’s Artist Spotlight program, Mashpee-based artist and former federal fishery scientist Mike Palmer is collaborating with the Cape Cod Commerical Fishermen’s Alliance to showcase the wonders of our local fish and shellfish species and the importance of our local fisheries.

The exhibition, titled “Ocean to Art: Cape Cod’s Seafood Palette,” is on display at Barnstable Town Hall through June 28 with an artist’s reception at 4:30 p.m. on April 12. Palmer said he and the Fishermen’s Alliance worked to select species to highlight that represented the Cape’s 15 towns and respective ports, and ones that show how catches change throughout the seasons.

“When I retired from the federal government, I really wanted to become more engaged in the local community and wanted an opportunity to give back and connect more directly with these nonprofits who are helping preserve the way of life on Cape Cod,” he said. “That was kind of why I wanted to align the exhibit with the Alliance because I think their mission of preserving a way of life here on Cape Cod, sustainable harvest of our fisheries and focusing on the small boat fisheries, is something that I can connect with and in get behind.”

The challenge for Palmer, he says, was figuring out how to “aesthetically present” these species as many local fish lack the vibrant colors one might find further down the coast and in the Caribbean.

“I always enjoy when I can take the ugly and make it beautiful,” he said. “Monkfishes are a great example of that…That is a horribly ugly fish but if you can make that something that makes the audience want to look at it, inquire and be inquisitive about it, then I think I've done my job.”

As for the audience, Palmer hopes they leave the exhibition with a deeper appreciation for the fisheries and their longstanding historical and cultural impacts on the Cape.

“Local fisheries are important and I just want people to appreciate what they bring to the table,” he said. “Pun intended.”

“Ocean to Art: Cape Cod’s Seafood Palette,” is on display inside the second floor hearing rooms at Barnstable Town Hall through June 28. All of the works in the exhibition are available for purchase with 10% of all show proceeds going to the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance. For more information about the show visit, www.waquoitbayfishcompany.com/ocean-to-art/.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Pretty side of monkfish: artist finds best of Cape Cod's catch in show