Shared Waters: Artists & Shapers for Laru Beya brings together leading artists and surfboard shapers to create a collection of one-of-a-kind surfboards benefiting Laru Beya Collective. Each board begins in the hands of a shaper before being given to an artist to paint, alter, or reimagine, transforming a functional object into a collaborative work of art. Bringing together the cultures of art and surfing, Shared Waters celebrates the surfboard as both a vehicle for creative expression and a means of access to the ocean. Proceeds from the auction will support Laru Beya’s year-round youth programming.
Founded in Far Rockaway, Queens, in 2018, Laru Beya Collective provides historically excluded youth with access to the ocean and long-term mentorship through surfing and water-safety education. By creating an inclusive community in and around the water, Laru Beya gives young people the opportunity not only to learn to surf and become confident in the ocean, but to build lasting relationships with mentors, peers, and the broader surfing community. Its programs serve more than 150 young people annually and extend beyond the water to include art workshops, media classes, environmental stewardship, and community events. This work responds to significant disparities in access to outdoor recreation and water safety: in America’s 100 most populous cities, communities of color have 44% less recreational outdoor space than predominantly white communities, while Black people drown at 1.5 times the rate of white people, with the starkest disparities among children ages 5 to 14. Through sustained mentorship, Laru Beya seeks to turn access into something lasting by developing confidence, leadership, environmental awareness, and a new generation of mentors within the community.
Hear from the shapers [HERE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPKiyGbzIAk)
Learn about Laru Beya and their impact on the community [HERE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BEVE1CaVns)
Please join us for an evening celebrating *Shared Waters: Artists & Shapers for Laru Beya*, with all of the artist-designed surfboards on view.
October 1, 6–9 PM
Cafe Studio NYC
195 Chrystie Street, New York
Bidding will be open exclusively on Artsy and will begin closing on Tuesday, October 6th at 12:00 pm ET.
Laru Beya Collective is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations can be made directly to Laru Beya [here](https://www.larubeyacollective.com/checkout/donate?donatePageId=60bd06d517c67a2cee6242cd)
Follow along @larubeyasurfing and [larubeyacollective.com](https://www.larubeyacollective.com/)
Made possible by REEF, a leader in the surf industry dedicated to driving positive social and environmental change.
*The countdown timer on the artwork pages will display the end time for the lot. Each lot closes in 1-minute increments and will be reset to 2 minutes if a bid is placed within the 2 minutes before the lot's scheduled closing time. For further information please [see our FAQ](https://support.artsy.net/s/article/What-is-cascade-and-popcorn-bidding-and-how-does-it-work)*