05/21/2026
The ocean nurtures us, nourishes us, inspires us, and protects us. This June 13th is our chance to give something back.
The Giving Ocean brings together art, food, conversation, and community in support of ocean conservation — and is itself a love letter to the sea.
At the heart of the evening is a pop-up art exhibition titled The Giving Ocean, inspired by Shel Silverstein’s beloved The Giving Tree, featuring local artists working across multiple media, each reflecting the many ways the ocean shapes life, livelihood, emotion, and community.
The evening includes:
🎨Pop-up art exhibition featuring multiple local artists across different media
📝Live poem reading by Victoria poet laureate Marie Metaphor, giving the ocean a voice
🎀Silent auction
📢Panel of speakers including Katie Keats, athlete and ocean advocate with Surfrider, and Aki Kaltenbach, the founder behind vegan seafood brand Save Da Sea — more to be announced
🦪Oyster bar with buck-a-shuck by Shuck Taylor’s and a grazing table presented by Finest at Sea, with plant-based seafood spreads by Save Da Sea
🍸Non-alcoholic cash bar presented by Fizz
🚪Door prize
And more, with support from a range of local sponsors and partners
Your ticket directly supports ocean conservation. Proceeds to be distributed among Surfrider Foundation, Georgia Strait Alliance, and SeaLegacy — and attendees vote on the fourth recipient on the night.
Come and go as you please throughout the evening. A full schedule will be posted so you can plan around the speakers, the readings, or simply the oysters. Any amount of time — and any level of support — is warmly welcomed.
We look forward to seeing you at The Lab Victoria on June 13 — tickets are linked in our bio.
