SANTA CRUZ — Hundreds of sea glass enthusiasts and ocean-inspired art lovers filled the Santa Cruz Boardwalk’s Cocoanut Grove Saturday to comb through and take home works of nearly 60 artisans at the 16th annual Santa Cruz Sea Glass and Ocean Art Festival.
“Sea glass is found all over the world,” said Dave Whittick, who just returned from a sea glass hunting trip in Japan. “You can find it in Europe, South America, the Hawaiian Islands and there happens to be a unique place to find sea glass up the coast in Davenport. You can’t find glass like it anywhere else.”
Walking through the crowded Cocoanut Grove ballroom, Whittick mentioned that sea glass is a result of historic littering and that it’s a diminishing resource. His passion for sea glass is shared by his daughters: Krista Hammond, who founded the festival, and Nicole Mattacola, who serves as the Santa Cruz Sea Glass and Ocean Art Festival‘s current organizer.
“I had no idea how packed this would be,” said Mattacola. “It’s crazy and wonderful. This is a passion project for me because I love the community around sea glass collecting. It’s like hunting outdoors for easter eggs. You get this, ‘Look what I found!’ positive energy.”
The event featured food, a full bar serving “sea glass cocktails,” live music and presentations from artists and sea glass enthusiasts, including Sage Harmon, who discussed ethical collecting practices for sea glass hunters. These practices included respecting protected areas where collecting is prohibited and bringing a bag to pick up trash alongside sea glass.
From the ballroom to the sun room, artists and craftspeople from around Santa Cruz County and the Bay Area presented sea glass jewelry, ceramic art and other ocean-inspired products such as soaps. Sunnyvale-based artist Jan Piazza-Willard of Salty Zen Designs had her unique hand-made jewelry on display. Her husband Jon Willard explained that the draw of sea glass is mostly in the hunt.
“We went to Seacliff (State Beach) yesterday and found a marble and a few pieces,” said Jon Willard. “It’s an adventure. Almost every piece she has here is made from a piece that we found.”
Lisa Husby and John Chappell of John Chappell Design in Carmel brought a number of Chappell’s ocean-inspired artwork to the festival, including fish-shaped fountains, frescoes and other art pieces featuring fossils, teeth and shells. Chappell explained that he was educated as a zoologist and began making the art after he retired.
“Now this is my full-time gig and I wish I would have retired earlier,” said Chappell. “The frescoes are my latest works and the fountains are very popular. Everyone likes water.”
Santa Cruz-based artist Amber Engfer of ARE Creations uses a unique photographic process called cyanotype to create prints and adorn clothing such as jeans and jean jackets. Engfer was pleasantly surprised by the huge turnout at the festival and the view she had from her spot in the Cocoanut Grove’s sun room terrace.
“Cyanotype is an alternative photographic process,” said the artist. “I use a solution that is yellow in color and I paint it onto paper or fabric and wood. I collect plants and put them directly on top and put them out into the sunlight. And when the UV rays hit the solution, there’s a chemical reaction that changes it from yellow to blue, and then it dyes the paper or the fabric. When I feel like it’s finished, I wash it and it leaves behind a print of the plant.”
Santa Cruz resident Kim Whalen was at the festival Saturday along with her family. Among all the artists and vendors, she admired the handmade tiles from Ancient Hands Tile the most.
“The detailed work on them is crazy,” said Whalen. “We’re taking home some drilled glass so that my granddaughter can make a bracelet for herself. We like to go to East Cliff and look for glass.”
Hogun and Christine Spaugh of Watsonville were also astonished by the large turnout at the festival and were taking inspiration from Ancient Hand Tiles to maybe do a little redecorating back at their home.
“I was looking at these tiles and thought they could look cool in a backsplash,” said Hogun Spaugh.
“It’s given us some ideas,” added Christine Spaugh. “And I am impressed to see how many people have shown up to support local art.”
The Santa Cruz Sea Glass and Ocean Art Festival continues Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For information, visit the event’s website.
If you go
What: Santa Cruz Sea Glass and Ocean Art Festival
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday
Where: Cocoanut Grove at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Cost: $5