When you think of surfboard art, you might think about the psychedelic graphics, but with the Morro Bay Surfboard Art Festival surfboards are transformed into works of art by local artists to capture the unique story of life in San Luis Obispo County. New this year, the Festival is proudly partnering with the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, so art and surf lovers can catch the artworks on view at the special pop-up exhibition during one of the SLO Farmer’s Markets (on November 2).
The Festival, in its fourth year, shines a light on San Luis Obispo County’s unique creative culture and surf lifestyle. Look around surf culture and you’ll see art abounds. As objects, surfboards are sculpted by board-shaping masters into both beautiful and functional objects to be collected and prized. Now in the hands of more than 20 talented local painters and sculptors, these surfboards become canvases for creative expression conveying familiar scenes of the coast, its wildlife and stunning ocean views.
During the Festival run from October 7 to December 1, visitors are able to view these unique technicolor artworks at more than 45 locations around San Luis Obispo County. A map will be available to download showing each surfboard site, scattered in restaurants and shops. Visitors wanting to see the entire exhibit in one place should come to the Sept. 30th unveiling event at Forever Stoked in Morro Bay.
Those interested in catching the Festival should mark these dates:
Saturday, September 30 (5:00 – 8:00 p.m.) – Unveiling Event at Forever Stoked, 1164 Quintana Rd. Morro Bay – The only chance to see all the surfboards in one place, meet the artists, and celebrate with food, beer, wine and art!
October 7 thru December 1 – The Festival runs with 45 exhibiting locations this year in SLO County. View the map at mbsurfboardartfest.com beginning October 7.
November 2(6:00 – 9:00 p.m.) – Pop-up Exhibit at the SLO Farmer’s Market on Broad Street / SLO Museum of Art
December 2 (10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) Art Sale at the Inn at Morro Bay, 60 State Park Rd., Morro Bay. Buy and take home an original work of surfboard art.
All monies raised from the Festival help to support Morro Bay in Bloom, a volunteer-run organization dedicated to the beautification of the community. For more info, please visit mbsurfboardartfest.com