We all marvel at the ocean’s fearsome strength and mesmerizing beauty, but it is artists who capture its power. Exhibiting works from painters such as Georgia O’Keeffe and Jacob Lawrence, “In American Waters” puts oceanic wonder on display. Whether the image is a vast expanse of tranquil water or an impressive fleet of ships, the marine art in this exhibition reveals what the ocean means for America. Although typically seen as a formidable obstacle and great separator, it connects the New World to the rest of the world in countless ways. —Nicole Matthias