Arts Programming
Reinforcing our Commitment
Surfing Madonna Oceans Project is a 501c3 nonprofit based in Encinitas, California and was officially formed in 2013 by Robert Nichols and Mark Patterson (artist of the Surfing Madonna mosaic). The specific purpose for forming the nonprofit was to conserve, maintain and promote the public display of art and to promote environmental conservation efforts.
Future projects include partnerships with local arts groups, support for Arts Alive banners, direct awards to local artists, a series of articles in local news outlets promoting the arts, programming events for the public to experience local artists through shows, readings, performances and more.
"Save the Ocean" 2024
At
Front Porch Gallery
January 17 - February 29, 2024
Reception January 21, 2024 from 12 - 2
Surfing Madonna Oceans Project in collaboration with Front Porch Gallery presents the Fourth Annual "Save the Ocean" show highlighting the beautiful ocean environment.
Enjoy these artists who share their creative talents to bring awareness to the environment and the need for Ocean Stewardship through conservation, preservation and appreciation.
at The Front Porch Gallery
All Participating Artists
Surfing Madonna
Save the Ocean 4
January 17 - February 29, 2024
2903 Carlsbad Blvd
Carlsbad CA 92008
3rd Annual "Save the Ocean"
Art & Poetry Exhibit
Show runs October 13 - November 2, 2023
Submission Deadline September 17, 2023
“Lunar Symbiosis” by Kelsey Worth
Best Theme Fine Art 2023
OCEAN-EARTH-AIR
Art & Poetry Exhibit at
The Poway Center for Performing Arts
April 2023
Reception April 23, 2023 from 1 - 4 PM
Ocean-Earth-Air Art and Poetry Book
2023 California Regional Art and Poetry exhibit at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts
celebrating our beautiful, inspiring and fragile environment.
Congratulations to the following Artists and Poets who participated in the April 2023 show at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts are highlighted in this beautiful full color catalog with hardcover and dust jacket.
Artists and Poets included in the catalog:
Poets Participating
Jeff Bettger & John Henry Bettger - First Place
Robt O’Sullivan - Second Place
Janet Janszen - Third Place
Mike Farber - Honorable Mention
Carol Shamon - Honorable Mention
Keith Denny - Honorable Mention
Jo-Ann Smith, Griselda Navarro, Maria Alabi, Joanne Sharp, Mary Lenore Quigley, Hannah Butler, Jim Babwe, Jane Muschenetz, Kate Porter, Jan Beaton, Annette Friend, Marit Anderson
Award Winning Artists
Dirk Harman - First Place Award
Brian Belfield - Best Ocean Award
Susan Coppock - Best Earth Award
Ira Cosmos - Best Air Award
Julia C R Gray - Second Place
Darina M Baebler - Third Place
Pamela Ingwers - Honorable Mention
Leon Cain - Honorable Mention
Isabelle Verona - Honorable Mention
John Linthurst - Honorable Mention
Robin Street-Morris - Honorable Mention
Kathleen Paoni - Honorable Mention
Noel Fishman - Honorable Mention
Lorraine Cote - Honorable Mention
Art Show Participants Included in the Catalog
Deborah Buffington, Therese Verner, Janet Hansen, Lisa Tomczeszyn, Leon Cain, Paige Winston, Sherry Krulle-Beaton, Linda Kelson, Wanda Brown, Nora Dewey, Robin Burgin, Matthew Meyer, Brian Belfield, Grace Swanson, Patricia McMaster, John Linthurst, Ann Chaitin, Noel Fishman, Renee Richetts, Isabelle Verona, Robin Street-Morris, Lorrie Teates, Darlene Katz, Thomas Smith, Ira Cosmos, Darina M Baebler, Maureen Blackhall, Trevor Coopersmith, Patricia Crockett, Catherine Cooke Dudley, Kathleen Paoni, Janet Perkin, Natalie Taylor, Julia C R Gray, Susan Coppock, Christy Ross, Kelsey Worth, Karen Moreland, Sue De Wulf, Pamela Ingwers, Rita Shulak, Christina Zeller, Helena Faitelson, Dirk Harman, Lorraine Cote, Alex Shakuto, Soham Pattanayak, Tabu Khan, Stephen Frank Gary, Americo Bianchi
Judges: Cheryl Ehlers, Mike Redman, Cathy Carey
Congratulations to the Selected Artists
Ocean-Earth-Air
Art & Poetry Exhibition
The show runs from March 29, 2023 to April 30, 2023
at The Poway Center for the Performing Arts
15498 Espola Rd, Poway, CA 92064
Reception April 23 from 1 - 4PM
Performances by the Mission Bay high school band "The Preservationists"
Poetry reading from selected poets and awards ceremony
We are delighted to have been supported in bringing you this show by our sponsors:
California Arts Council
and
San Diego County Supervisors
District 2 Community Enhancement Grant
2nd Annual "Save the Ocean"
Art & Poetry Exhibit
The judges votes are in and ready for viewing!
The poetry award winners for the show were chosen by judges: Danny Salzhandler board member of Surfing Madonna and Art Director, Robert O’Sullivan Schleith of Poets INC (Inland North County), and local poet Marit Anderson.
We had 24 excellent poems submitted and these were the three selected by our judges for awards.
Second Annual "Save the Ocean"
Art Award Winners
Show Runs from
October 7 - November 4, 2022
at Escondido Municipal Gallery
Best in Show Overall
Alexander Shakuto “Surfing Sun”.
First Place - LaRetta Small - “Friends or Foes”.
Best in Theme for Sculpture - Janet Hansen - “Enlighted Rings 5”
Best in Theme for Fine Art - Shawn Bruner - “Shell Fire”
Second Place - Sue De Wulf - “Couch Surfer”.
The Third Place - Cherrie LaPorte - “Moody Sea Blues”.
Honorable Mention artists are:
Darina Baebler for “Blissful Path” - photography
Dan Pressman for “Whale Tail on a Wave” digital photography
Ann Chaitin for “Sea Forms” Embossed copper
Shawn Bruner for “Hatch Kelp” photography
Dirk Harman for “Cove Morning” oil painting
Darlene Katz “Hang 10” oil painting
Scroll to View Selected Artists
in Second Annual "Save the Ocean" Exhibit
This year there were 169 compelling ocean themed submissions, and of those, 71 were chosen for inclusion in the show that will be on exhibit at the Escondido Municipal Gallery from October 7 - November 4. The mediums juried into the show varied from traditional painting, to digital photography, marquetry wood working, ceramic sculpture, fabric artworks, mixed media, photography and mosaic. The show was judged by Surfing Madonna board members; Mike Redman - President, Cheryl Ehlers - Program Administrator and Cathy Carey - Executive Director. “We were so amazed at the quality of the work and large number of entrants, that we added two extra awards for “Best in Show - Theme for Fine Art and Sculpture in addition to overall Best in Show. This way we could put a special focus on who did something unique and wonderful with the theme, and which piece stood out overall that we wanted to represent our organization this year.”
"Inspirations" Art Reception
Awards Ceremony April 1, 2022
Surfing Madonna Executive Director Cathy Carey photo by Mike Redman
Juan Flores Best in Show photo by Mike Redman
Kelley Sutphin with First Place Award painting photo by Mike Redman
Mac Hillenbrand with Second Place Award
Sue de Wulf accepting her Third Place award photo by Mike Redman
Julia Hiebaum with her beautiful photograph
Kelley Sutphin accepting her First Place Award photo by Mike Redman
Cheryl Tall accepting her Honorable Mention award photo by Mike Redman
Janet Hansen digital light creations photo by Mike Redman
Janet Hansen digital light creations photo by Mike Redman
Stephen Simpson and Vincent Burkhead
Bobbi Rohn, artist April Leffingwell and Cathy Carey photo by Mike Redman
Stephanie Mission and lower left painting "Coronado Sunset"
Surfing Madonna presents:
"Inspirations"
at La Playa Gallery
in La Jolla, CA
April 1 - April 29, 2022
Reception Friday April 1, 2022 from 6 - 8pm
Awards Ceremony at 6:30pm
Congratulations to the “Inspirations” award winners!
Click image in slide show for artist and award:
Best in Show Juan Flores “Green Houses, Del Mar, CA”
First Place - Kelley Sutphin for “Jellyfish Dreams”
Second Place - Mac Hillenbrand for “Torrey Pines”
Third Place - Sue De Wulf for “Chilly Day At the Beach”
Honorable Mentions -
Carol Mansfield for “The Aquarium”
April Leffingwell for “Inspired” by the Surfing Madonna”
Cheryl Tall for “Villa of the Bees”
Jordan Lee for “Poseidon’s Garden”
Juried by Cathy Carey
and Vaughn Woods
Art Show
"Inspirations"
What inspires you? The artists in this show share with us what motivates them, what gets their creative juices flowing, and what they want to share with the world!
Surfing Madonna Oceans Project wants to help support La Playa Gallery in finding new artists to represent, and to encourage the community to view art with inspired arts programming. We seek to recognize, showcase and motivate artists to achieve their best possible outcome by showing and selling their work in great galleries.
"Save the Ocean" Art Show at Escondido Municipal Gallery October 2021
62 Artists from California were juried into this important show with 13 awards presented
SURFBOARD MOSAIC BY NANCY HUNTER AND DON MANOR
CHERRIE LAPORTE - MOSAIC SURFBOARD
MAC HILLENBRAND - MARQUETRY
LARETTA SMALL - OIL PAINTING
TIMES ADVOCATE ARTICLE ABOUT THE SAVE THE OCEAN ART SHOW
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SURFING MADONNA, Cathy Carey PRESENTS CHERIE LAPORTE WITH HER FIRST PLACE AWARD
Surfing Madonna Oceans Project
"Save the Ocean" Art Show 2021
We had an incredible variety of excellent artwork submitted for this show! Over 160 pieces. It was a tough job to whittle it down to these 62 juried in artworks.
Enjoy this online gallery!
Please join us in celebrating these artists at the Reception October 9th from 4 - 7pm.
Awards Ceremony at 5:30pm.
Fundraiser and Concert
Music by The Hot Club Combo
Photo by Stephen Simpson
Doug David and Matt Alverson, front, listen as Hot Club Combo play Django Reinhardt music for David, a quadriplegic and veteran who has not been able to socialize or see his favorite bands play live during the pandemic, was gifted with a fundraising event Dec. 20, by the Surfing Madonna Oceans Project. The Hot Club Combo includes, from left, Rick Barlow on violin, Kevin Roberts on drums, Steve Greim on guitar, Patrick Berrogain on guitar and Eileen Apfel on stand-up bass. Surfing Madonna hired the band and gave a donation to David, while friends donated almost $1,400. To contribute to Doug David, go to surfingmadonna.org. Put “For Doug David” in the notes section of PayPal.
https://thecoastnews.com/surfing-madonna-oceans-project-fundraiser/
Coast News Article
January 10, 2022
Coast News Article January 10, 2022
Surfing Madonna Local Artists Award Winner -
Musician Steve Denyes
"Winter Songs"
Live Streamed concert on Facebook
December 21, 2020
For roughly 30 years, San Diego resident Steve Denyes has stolen the hearts of children and adults alike with his catchy, upbeat tunes. In fact, the musician behind the popular Hullabaloo band, was playing roughly 300 shows a year before the novel coronavirus made its way to the U.S.
This year, Denyes is playing one virtual show a month and a “couple of socially-distanced house concerts.”
“COVID has turned everything upside down for me professionally,” said Denyes, who said one of his biggest inspirations is children’s performer Dan Zanes. “It’s difficult financially, of course, but, more than anything, I miss the daily connection I used to have with people all over the county. I know it’ll come back eventually but I miss the interaction with the families I’ve been singing with for years.”
Despite the hardships, Denyes said musicians will find a way to overcome the current challenges facing the entertainment industry.
Surfing Madonna wanted to extend Steve a helping hand, and the feedback from this concert was that his upbeat show helped a lot of people feel better at a very difficult time. That's what the arts do for us, and at Surfing Madonna we want to keep inviting the community to explore our incredibly talented local community of creative people.
Surfing Madonna Local Artists Award Winner - David Reed
"Uphill and Into the Wind"
Autobiography of a cross country bike trip in the mid 70's
“Surfing Madonna Oceans Project is a community arts organization. We want to support local authors and artists, especially now, with that group being economically impacted so harshly by the pandemic. By hosting a reading of David’s book, and distributing books, we want to call attention to a bright light in our community and applaud his creative effort. The book is a wonderful showcase of being awake and alive in nature and being inspired by the renewal of energy everyone can find there. Part of our mission is to bring awareness to the environment, to help people establish links to enjoying the outdoors.”
Today David Reed is an award-winning San Diego landscape architect. He has spent a lifetime studying the natural world, inspired from his youth in the woods, his University training, his apprenticeship as a stonemason, his travels on a bicycle, and his designs on the land. He re-designed four major gardens in San Diego’s jewel, Balboa Park.
Book Reading at Madonna Park
As part of the award Surfing Madonna purchased a number of books for local distribution through the Little Free Library at Surfing Madonna Park, located at Leucadia Pizzeria and the intersection of Highway 101 and Encinitas boulevard.
Surfing Madonna will also be hosting David Reed for an author reading at Surfing Madonna Park on Saturday November 7 from 2 to 4pm. Due to social distancing protocols, this is not open to the public, but will be videotaped and viewable online at http://www.uphillandintothewind.com.
An additional enjoyment of the book can be had by checking out the QR code on the book at his website. Long before the cell phone, Reed carried fifteen pounds of camera gear to document his trip. He has nearly 170 color photos, keyed to the story, and maps, which can be seen there in addition to the video of the book reading at Surfing Madonna Park.
The story takes place in 1973, with the U. S. and the White House in turmoil, and David Reed wants out. He leaves everything he knows to cross the United States with little more than his bicycle and camera. He embarks on his bike and hike odyssey from the Garden State to the Golden Gate recounting a journey that spans 5,420 miles, eleven crossings of the Continental Divide and two months hiking in the great National Parks.
Kevin Anderson, Encinitas Artist
Beautiful underwater seascape mural at Surfing Madonna Park
You've seen his work all over Encinitas, Solana Beach and North County San Diego! Surfing Madonna commissioned Kevin to paint a utility box below the mosaic. Completed in 2019, it is a beloved addition to the mosaic artwork and Surfing Madonna Park!
Water Safety
Coloring Books
Working Towards a Brighter Future
We believe that when people are able to enjoy the ocean, they are more likely to want to protect it. It’s also important that people enjoy the ocean safely. Towards that aim, we support an incredible program at the YMCA that teaches youth with special needs how to swim. We have also created a Water Safety Coloring book and complimentary curriculum that is offered free of charge to local elementary schools. Everyone should have the ability to enjoy the ocean safely, and these efforts support that
To date, we have donated $36,000 to the Paul Ecke YMCA Aquatic Programs for Children with Special Needs. In addition to teaching participants to swim, this program gives them opportunities to create friendships, gain a sense of independence, build confidence, strengthen weak muscles, improve body in space awareness, and more. We are proud to partner with the YMCA and support this life-changing program.
The Surfing Madonna Ocean’s Project Water Safety Coloring Books were created with collaborative efforts by the Encinitas Life Saving Association, Artist Kyle Bowen, and our local life guards. The purpose of the book is to teach kids about ocean and pool safety, as well as marine life, and the importance of keeping our beaches and oceans clean and protected. There is also complimentary curriculum focused on water safety, marine life and ocean stewardship. Surfing Madonna team members and volunteers visit local classrooms and present this curriculum along with the book. In the US the second leading cause of death for children under 14 is drowning. We are fortunate to live in an area with an abundance of beaches and pools, but with that good fortune comes an increase in our risk. This book is a tool to help us create more ocean advocates, and more importantly, to keep them safe.
Ocean Life Mosaic
Recently unveiled, this magnificent 8ft by 15ft seamless glass mosaic depicting our local marine habitat complete with kelp, stingrays, porpoises, sea lions and more has become an instant iconic landmark for Encinitas! This gorgeous piece of art is on display on the new Marine Safety Center at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas.
“This is a long awaited piece of art” said Bob Nichols, President of the Surfing Madonna Oceans Project. “Our beach community needs more ocean art. This mosaic will have a legend on the side, so children and beach goers of all ages can learn all about what sea life lives just yards off of our shore. We feel if people are educated about our ocean, they will respect and love it more.”
Pictured below are the community helpers learning to make a mosaic!
The concept was developed by President Robert Nichols.
The Creative Illustrator was Peggy Sue Zepeda, the mosaic was constructed by Don Myers Stained Glass shop in Oceanside and the 100+ volunteers in the community helped cut, shape and glue the glass down.
Don Myers invited the community to come out and help with the creation of the mosaic!
