As part of the 2023 Save the Harbor Save the Bay Better Beaches program, artist Eileen Riestra and I collaborated on a project inspired by Japanese style Zen sand gardens. I created eight sand rakes for people to use to draw designs in the sand and a stand for the rakes to lean on that Eileen painted with meditating seagulls! We called the project “Inner Peace at the Beach” and set up sand raking stations as part of Heal and Release Boston, Eastie Beach Bash, and as part of Isaura Oliveira’s Living Experience Outdoor Program. It is so important for us as creative people who are passionate about creating accessible and inclusive ways for folx to come together and build community through connecting with nature to leverage all of our powers of visual art, music and dance together. When we shine together we make the most light!!

In 2024 we added sculptural palm trees made from reclaimed building materials to Inner Peace at the beach. Eileen Riestra and I teamed up with a new collaborator, Tanairi Garcia Vega, a Puerto Rican Chelsea-based activist, creative entrepreneur, and local politician. Our series of pop-ups brought tropical vibes to the beaches. Tanairi brought a pop up shop with free Acai bowls and we added onto events with DJ’s and dancing to enhance the creative energy and create spaces for people to engage with the natural environment while enjoying the music. We popped up again with Heal and Release at Malibu Beach, the Beats on the Beach Block Party in Fort Point Channel, Wellness by the Water, and JukeBox Event open decks. We will be back for more creative fun in 2025, stay tuned and come dance with us!