HI, my name is Ryan Jackson and I am the creator of nh2o - New Hampshire Waters co. It has been three years since I started this surf art brand and figured it was about time I introduced myself.
I am 41 years old and married with three children who are 5, 4, and 2 years old. I grew up on Long Island and moved to the Seacoast in 2008 after meeting my wife who is from the North Shore (MA). I never planned on staying but have fallen in love with this area. I have been to many places and communities around the world and none are quite as special as this.
Like most kids on Long Island I grew up playing lacrosse. But when my family moved to the East End of Long Island near the ocean I was exposed to surfing and since that first wave my life has been consumed by the ocean.
I have always gravitated to art and design, making logos as a small kid, and winning the D.A.R.E. poster contest. This career path was solidified after taking film photography in high school. I passed on playing college lacrosse and went to Flagler College in St. Augustine to study graphic design. I spent a lot of time on the beach and not so much behind a computer.
I decided to pursue a career in Art Education after realizing that graphic design was not for me. I received a B.A. in Art Education, a M.Ed. in Elementary Education, and a M.A.T. in Art Education. I now teach the studio arts at Amesbury High School and I truly love my job.
Why nh2o? Well, I enjoy making things and the intrinsic value that comes from making things for others. I am always humbled when people genuinely like the things I make for them, it is very fulfilling. So, I wanted to create a surf art brand that captures the identity of the people and places of the Seacoast of New Hampshire and give back to the community that has given so much to me.
The Launch- During the pandemic I decided to have some fun with my friends. Drawing on a project example I created for a screen printing class, I began dropping off Jim shirts around town for fun. It was an unsettling time and I wanted to bring some joy to the community that has accepted me and my family.
At first I did not intend for it to be anonymous but after a few Jim drops people began speculating the identity of this would-be Banksy, and I decided to have some fun with it. This went on for 6 months until one local sleuth caught me on a home video camera being careless while on a Jim drop during the day.
Who is “Jim”? “Jim” is a colloquial term used for any surfer on the seacoast. It can be negative, positive, or a neutral term. If you're in the water, especially at a certain popular spot in New Hampshire, you might get called “Jim”. If you're reading this you’re Jim.
Origins of “Jim” - This goes back several decades when two local surfers, Johnny Meehan and Jack Keefe were working a side job moving pallets. Their employer would repeatedly call them “Jim” even after being corrected. Johnny Meehan, who surfs that certain popular spot in New Hampshire religiously, is the purveyor of “Jim”
John Meehan is the epitome of a good surfer. He’ll give you waves, hoot you into waves, and complement your waves. He's always kind and friendly. He surfs for hours on end and will go out in almost any condition. He represents where a lifetime of surfing will take you; happy, healthy, and kind. It was for these reasons I chose to celebrate this local legend in the culminating Jim drop of the nh2o launch. See nh2o’s first instagram post and the Jim story in nh2o’s instagram stories for the details
