Ana Teresa Fernández

S O S • • • – – – • • •
Art + Nature 2025

Over 800 community members came together at Main Beach in Laguna Beach, CA on November 9th, 2025 to speak with light on behalf of the ocean. If the ocean were to be given a voice, it would cry out for HELP, asking humanity to stop abusing her and protect her. We stood together holding up mirrors spelling out in international light language of Morse code: SOS, which has long stood for Save our Souls. Here, alongside the ocean, we implored: “Save Our Seas!”

800 bodies translated this message by becoming drops of water, holding mirrors, glittering and cheering on the sand in unison. Hundreds of human drops transforming into an ocean. WE were more than a social sculpture, we became a SOCIAL MONUMENT.

After the Morse code formation, we then merged as one swell of energy, flowing back and forth, becoming the tide, creating ripples across the shore.

An enormous thank you to all 800 participants who came and sung with light along the shore and helped embody SOS.

I cannot express enough gratitude to the Laguna Art Museum team who believed in , supported and helped make SOS happen for Art + Nature 2025 !!!!
Special thank you to Julie Perlin Lee, Victoria Gerard, Brian Ross, Robin Rundle, Carl Smith, Ryan Tuffnell, Sabrina Morris, Katherine Morton and all the docents and volunteers at LAM!!!
Thank you to Sarah McCarthy Grimm, @sarahgrimmstudio I would not have survived this week without your love and generosity and Thank you Zachariah Epperson!!! @zachariahleeee
Thank you @pilar.aguero.esparza for being here!!!

This footage was filmed and edited by Erik Thienes.

#socialmonument #socialsculpture #SOS #lagunaartmuseum #art #publicart #ocean #anateresafernandez #climatechange

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“You’re sitting in a universe made of circles. Each has its four directions, and you have your four directions. Find it. You already know it, or maybe you just don’t know how to touch base with that. But it’s like anything about loving the Earth, that means you got to get out there, and touch her, work with her, cultivate life force. Your four directions are to be found in yourself first, and then in concentric circles out. “ Katsi Cook

SOS by @anateresafernandez in collaboration with @lagunadanceofficial
Performed at Main Beach for Art + Nature 2025
@lagunaartmuseum

Choreographer: Jodie Gates @jodie__gates
Assistant to the Choreographer & filmed by: Krystal Matsuyama-Tsai
@matsuyamatsai

Dancers:
Isabella Caso
Valerie Chen
Stephanie Dai
Brendan Evans
Mandy Fang
Alec Guthrie
Casey Murray
Sophia Oddi
Emma Sutherland
Lani Yamanaka

Thank you @dennishenner for crafting my ideas into reality!

#lagunaartmuseum #lagunadance #art #dance #publicart #performance #anateresafernandez
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“Había tenido que tejer el amor con recuerdos” – Isabel Allende – Casa de los Espiritus
“I had to weave back the love through memories.”

Weaving through the erasure of butterflies and books.

Xerces Society notes that “A new study published today in Science has found that populations of butterflies across the United States are declining. In addition to dramatic declines for individual species, the study concluded that total abundance of butterflies has declined by 22% from 2000 to 2020. That means that for every five butterflies seen 20 years ago, now there are only four.

“Books are under profound attack in the United States. Our latest report, Banned in the USA: The Normalization of Book Banning, found that 6,870 books bans were enacted during the 2024-25 school year, across 23 states and 87 public school districts.” Pen America.

Come by the gallery to see “TransPollination of Eden” on view through October 23, 2025

Gallery hours: Mon – Fri 9am-4pm, Wed. & Thurs. evenings 6-8pm.

For more information about our exhibitions follow the links in our bio.

#butterflies #art #cabrillogallery #sculpture #transpollination #eden #climatechange

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Did you know the spider is considered the “unsung hero of the pollinators” as they quietly contribute to the health and diversity of the ecosystem?
Did you know as well that there has been a steep pollinator decline in our ecosystems since the end of the 20th century?
Bees on the other hand are called “the backbone of agriculture.” They are responsible for pollinating a third of the nation’s crops. Bees pollinate 75% of the fruits, nuts and vegetables grown in the US. And there was an 80% decline in the summer of 2025 across the US. If you are shocked by this news, you should be.
A 2025 study in Science found that the U.S. butterfly abundance dropped by 22% between 2000 and 2020.
We are not really talking about it amidst the already chaotic news cycle. Creating these bees, butterflies and the spider into the forest was a way of drawing attention to the empirical importance of these ecological heroes.

For more information regarding our exhibitions please follow the links in our bio

Gallery Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-4pm, Wed + Thurs evening 6-8pm.

#pollinators #art #sculpture #cabrillocollege #climatechange #Art

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