Channel Islands Maritime Museum Launches Revitalized Artist-in-Residence Program

The Channel Islands Maritime Museum is delighted to announce the launch of its newly revitalized Artist-in-Residence (AIR) Program, an exciting initiative that brings contemporary artists into direct conversation with the museum’s renowned maritime collection. We are equally thrilled to welcome Jem Atwater as the program’s inaugural Artist in Residence.

Funded in part through the generous support of the Nelson Maritime Art Foundation, the Artist-in-Residence Program reflects CIMM’s ongoing commitment to preserving maritime heritage while fostering new artistic interpretations inspired by the sea, sailing culture and the profound natural beauty of California’s coast.

A New Chapter for the Artist-in-Residence Program

The newly revitalized AIR Program invites contemporary artists to create new work in response to the museum’s historic collection of maritime paintings, ship models and artifacts. Each resident artist will spend up to three months working in CIMM’s newly renovated studio space, developing original work while engaging visitors through demonstrations, artist talks, studio tours and other public programs.

The program also looks toward the future. Following each residency cycle, the museum’s curatorial team will consider select works created during the residency for inclusion in CIMM’s permanent collection, continuing the museum’s tradition of documenting the artistry, history and culture of the maritime world through both historic and contemporary perspectives.

While inspired by an earlier museum tradition, this new AIR Program has been thoughtfully redesigned to create meaningful connections between today’s artists and the maritime stories that have shaped our world for generations.

Meet the Team Behind the Program

Travers Newton & Andrew Rose examine one of our paintings.

The Artist-in-Residence Program is overseen by Andrew Rose, CIMM’s Associate Curator, who joined the museum in January 2026. Andrew brings more than two decades of experience as an artist, educator, curator, and writer, including work with the Honolulu Museum of Art and galleries throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Trained at Pratt Institute and Vassar College, with an MFA in painting from Pratt, Andrew combines deep art historical knowledge with firsthand experience as a working artist and former artist-in-residence. A lifelong sailor who now lives aboard his Hans Christian 41 in Ventura Harbor, he brings a uniquely maritime perspective to the program’s vision.

Working alongside Andrew is Travers Newton, CIMM’s Conservation Advisor. Travers has extensive museum and conservation experience, including work with Harvard University, the Cleveland Institute of Art and the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. With deep family roots in Port Hueneme and a passion for regional art and maritime history, Travers contributes invaluable research and conservation insight. His investigations into the museum’s collection help provide resident artists with a richer understanding of the historical, technical and material stories behind the works that inspire them.

Welcoming Our Newest Artist in Residence: Jem Atwater

CIMM is proud to introduce Jem Atwater, a Ventura-based oil painter whose work celebrates the ever-changing beauty of California’s coast and landscapes through traditional oil-painting techniques and a contemporary point of view.

Jem’s paintings capture the dynamic light, ocean vistas and agricultural landscapes of Ventura County and beyond. Whether working en plein air or creating carefully composed studio pieces, her art reflects a deep connection to the natural world and to the Pacific Ocean. An avid surfer, Jem draws continual inspiration from life on the coast, and she describes plein air painting as both an artistic practice and a lifelong exercise in patience, observation, and connection to the environment.

Classically trained at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, Jem has dedicated much of her career to making fine art education accessible. She teaches oil painting throughout Ventura County, including at the Santa Paula Art Museum and maintains an active studio practice in Ventura. Her work has appeared in numerous juried exhibitions and local art shows, and her current exhibition at CIMM marks her first solo exhibition with the museum.

Visitors can view Jem’s exhibition in the Farr Gallery through August 24, 2026. As the museum’s first Artist in Residence, she will work from CIMM’s studio space throughout the summer, drawing inspiration directly from the museum’s maritime collection and helping shape the future of this exciting new program.

Meet Jem in Person: July Maritime Speaker Series

Seascape Painting Demonstration with Jem Atwater

WHEN: Thursday, July 16, 2026

TIME: 6-7pm

WHERE: Channel Islands Maritime Museum

As part of CIMM’s monthly Maritime Speaker Series, Jem will present a live seascape painting demonstration, sharing her oil-painting techniques, creative philosophy, and approach to capturing coastal light and atmosphere. The evening offers a rare opportunity to watch a professional plein air painter at work while learning about the artistic traditions that continue to shape California maritime art today.

Register For The Event

Looking Ahead

The launch of the Artist-in-Residence Program marks an exciting new chapter for the Channel Islands Maritime Museum. By inviting contemporary artists to engage directly with our historic collection, CIMM continues its mission of preserving maritime heritage while encouraging new creative voices inspired by the sea.

We invite our members, visitors, artists and the wider community to follow Jem’s residency throughout the summer and stay tuned for future residency announcements, studio events, and opportunities to meet the artists whose work is helping connect maritime history with the art of today.

For more information about the Artist-in-Residence Program or to apply, visit cimmvc.org/artist-in-residence  or contact Associate Curator, Andrew Rose, at arose@cimmvc.org.