“Through creativity and the arts, we invite the whole community to join us in raising their shared voices for ocean health and the future of our planet.” Fran Spector Atkins, Founder of Ocean Arts Festival and Director of SpectorDance
4th Annual Oceans Arts Festival: Monterey!
When: Saturday, May 11, from 1:00 – 4 pm
Where: Monterey Museum of Art, 559 Pacific St, Monterey, CA 93940
What: A family-friendly event featuring ocean-themed visual and performing art created by artists under the age of 24
Goal: To celebrate the power of creativity to deepen understanding of the ocean and inspire the next generation of ocean stewards
Cost: Free Admission
Free Admission to the Monterey Museum of Art, Performing and Visual Art Exhibitions, Science Tables, Art Activities, Creative Movement Workshops, Face-Painting with Lisa Ledin, La Tormenta Taco Truck, and More!
*See the first two of Monterey Museum of Art’sSpring/Summer Exhibitions: The Spring/Summer exhibition season is a celebration of water, life, and introspection. Featuring the photography of Frans Lanting, Bay of Life: From Wind to Whales is a journey through the natural splendor of Monterey Bay – showcasing the ecological resilience of the area and the power of conservation. Lanting's award-winning photographs are a call to action, inspiring stewardship of our natural world. Into the Blue features a selection from the Museum’s permanent collection and delves into the color blue. This exhibition invites viewers to ponder our deep connection with water and the planet. A Silver Tide: Cannery Row and the Monterey Fishing Industry, and David Ligare: Spheres of Influence, both on view beginning May 16, 2024, round out the Museum’s exhibitions, which collectively explore the significance of water as a source of life, a subject of profound reflection, and an ever-present element in California's natural and cultural landscape.
Ocean Theme Art By Young Artists
Shelby Figueroa (California State University Monterey Bay) Delphinia, Tatianna, and Venezia Hayward Alexandra Burrs (Youth Arts Collective) Kenzie Thomas (Stevenson School) Carolina Hiltunen (Forest Grove Elementary School) Erin Ikemiya (Carmel High School) Charlie Hiltuenen (Forest Grove Elementary)) Noa Malikai Tiamson Martin Luther King School) Raha Monaiati (Youth Arts Collective) Iphegneia Wilder (Youth Arts Collective) Raven Cook (Youth Arts Collective) Michele Ferrari (Youth Arts Collective) Addison Bakes (Youth Arts Collective) Summer Jordan (Individual Artist) Trinity Landers (Individual Artist) Lillis Handford (Los Arboles Middle School Class) Special Project: The Monterey Museum of Art engages with a class at Echo Valley Elementary School Video Artwork by Gabriella Edwards (Santa Catalina School)
Performing Arts
Arcoiris Cultural Dance Company
Youth Music Monterey Chamber Group
Music: Youth Music Monterey, Chamber Players, Brass Ensemble (Aleksey Klyushnik Director) Dance: Arcoiris Cultural Dance Company (Pillar Mendoza-Director) Music: Greenfield High School Mariachi Band (Matt Huot Director) Puppetry: Sea Stars Puppetry Troup (Carmel High) Dance: Madi Mims (Stevenson School) Dance: Kenzie Thomas (Stevenson School) Poetry: Hope Sallee from Santa Catalina School Poetry: Garland Thompson* Dance: SpectorDance Company*
Garland Thompson Poet and Storyteller Garland is a passionate storyteller and poet, weaving narratives that resonate deeply with audiences. With a background in theater, film, and video, he brings a unique blend of creativity and artistry to his work. As a former Poet Laureate of Pacific Grove, California Garland has dedicated his career to celebrating the power of language and the beauty of storytelling. Whether through live performances, poetry slams, podcasts, or written verse, Garland strives to inspire, connect, and provoke thought. With his talent for crafting immersive experiences and his commitment to elevating voices from all walks of life, Garland continues to leave an indelible mark on the world of storytelling and poetry.
SpectorDance Company SpectorDance Company will present excerpts from Ocean Trilogy. Inspired by interviews from renowned ocean scientists, Ocean Trilogy looks at the challenges confronting our ocean today, and ways we might address these threats from cutting-edge ocean science research. OceanTrilogy was created through a partnership with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (2010 to 2019) and has been performed at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., Sunset Center, Stanford University and many other venues statewide and nationally.
Workshops
Out of the Blue with Amy Byington and Charlotte Katherine Smith. Explore ocean diversity through creative movement. It’s a time to be playful and build empathy for ocean life. All ages are welcome!
Ocean Motion with Lucia Coppola. This joyous exploration of the ocean's movements and how they mirror our own. The body, breath and sound will all become pathways to follow as you move through a wave of rhythms from flowing through staccato, vibrant, lyrical and stillness. All ages are welcome!
Science Information and Art Tables
Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, inspiring our diverse community to explore and conserve the natural and cultural wonders of the Central California Coast.
Western Flyer Foundation, stirring curiosity by connecting art and science in the spirit of John Steinbeck, Ed Ricketts, and their journey on the Western Flyer.
The Hopkins Marine Station, part of Stanford University, is dedicated to the study of marine biology and the conservation of marine ecosystems. It conducts cutting-edge research on marine life, ocean health, and ecological sustainability, aiming to enhance our understanding and protection of the ocean's biodiversity.
Arts Council for Monterey County, promoting the art+science connection and cross-disciplinary partnerships.
FathomVerse, a mobile game designed to inspire a new wave of ocean explorers. In collaboration– MBARI, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and more – we’re creating a game that teaches casual gamers about ocean life and use of AI to identify marine animals.
First Night Monterey, an interactive art activity about ocean diversity
Ocean Mandala Coloring with Lucia Coppola, exploring the ocean’s beauty and meditative capacity through coloring.
Thank you to Ocean Arts Festival: Monterey 2024 Sponsors California Arts Council, Harden Foundation, Monterey County Gives!, Monterey Bay Aquarium, First Night Monterey, Rotary Club of Monterey, Trucksis Inc., Yellow Brick Road, Monterey Museum of Art, Events California
Ocean Arts Festival: Monterey 2024 Steering Committee: Fran Spector Atkins Founder and Event and Performing Arts Coordinator; Roxanne O’Weger Visual Art Coordinator and Monterey Museum of Art Liaison; Amy Byington Marketing and Administration; Lucia Coppola (Advisor, Composer, Poet,) Darcie Fohrman Advisor, Maire McDermid School and Visual Art Coordinator, Ellen Martin Event Planning and Visual Art Coordinator, Dr. George Matsumoto (Science Coordinator from MBARI) Charlotte Katherine Smith (Marketing and Social media)
About The Ocean Arts Festival
The 4th annual Ocean Arts Festival at the Monterey Museum will feature ocean-themed visual and performing arts created by young artists. The festival aims to harness the power of creativity to expand understanding of ocean science and deepen commitments to ocean stewardship. The first Ocean Arts Festival took place in 2019 the SpectorDance Studio in Marina. The concept was borne from SpectorDance’s Ocean Trilogy, a performance based on a 10-year collaboration with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. SpectorDance’s vision is for the Ocean Arts Festival to be an annual event that would grow and attract both young and professional artists in all genres from around the globe. Since 2022, we have partnered with the Monterey Museum of Art to offer our 2nd, 3rd and our upcoming 4th annual Ocean Arts Festival. The Ocean Arts Festival is a celebration of the power of the arts to teach, inspire, and generate positive change in the world. Through multiple entry points, the festival fosters thought, conversation, and action, and stimulates participants to connect with ways that their artistic expression connects with social and environmental impact.
Click here to watch a short video about Ocean Arts Festival 2023. Hear from a student and a teacher on what this event means to them.
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Contact Fran Spector Atkins if you would like to be involved with the Ocean Arts Festival: Monterey. Would you like to be on our email list? Click here to Join!