Evening Features Portraits of Students on the O’Neill Educational Ship
The faces of children learning the fundamentals of science and environmental stewardship while sailing Monterey Bay will be the subject of renowned, local photographer David Dennis’s reception and show, “Faces of the Sea Odyssey,” from 5:00 to 10 PM on Friday, February 5 at the Food Lounge Santa Cruz, 1001 Center Street. Admission is free.
O’Neill Sea Odyssey, the non-profit organization which has served more than 85,000 elementary school children from the region with an ocean-going science and environmental education program, will be the beneficiary of the show.
The photos will be of students who sailed on June 23, 2015 from the Nueva Vista Community Resources (formerly Beach Flats and Familia Center) in Santa Cruz and a class of students with special needs from Buena Vista School in San Jose.
Music will be provided by Trio Guadalupano. Local food, beverage and artisan vendors will include Twins Kitchen, Ocean 2 Table, Cali Maple Designs, Ventana Surfboards & Supplies, Sarah Broome, Chris Allen and Humble Sea Brewery.
“David Dennis has created an approach he calls philanthropic photography,” said Dan Haifley, Executive Director of the O’Neill Sea Odyssey, “This will be his seventh fundraising show in the last two years, and we’re excited to be working with him on this event. David also works for Microsoft, and they’ll be supporting this fundraiser, as well.”
“The work of the O’Neill Sea Odyssey to start kids off early with an appreciation for our marine environment and for conserving it is exemplary,” said David Dennis. “I’m humbled to be involved with such a great organization.”
O’Neill Sea Odyssey was founded in 1996 by wetsuit innovator and surfer Jack O’Neill. A living classroom was created on board a 65-foot catamaran sailing the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary where 4th – 6th grade students from schools throughout Central California receive hands-on lessons about the marine habitat and the importance of the relationship between the living sea and the environment.
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David Dennis is a philanthropic photographer, co-founder of Ventana Surfboards & Supplies and a Director of Product Management at Microsoft. He lives on the Westside of Santa Cruz with his wife and two kids.