Weaving Together the People of the Sea. In Brzeźno, Art Will Bring People Together Around the Baltic Sea
On 30 July, Brzeźno Beach will bring together art, sailing and education around a shared concern for the Baltic Sea. The highlight of the “Weaving Together the People of the Sea” event will be the unveiling of an art installation inviting us to reflect on our relationship with the sea.
The programme will include a meeting with Monika Witkowska – sailor, traveller and mountaineer – as well as upcycling workshops and educational activities for families. The event is part of the ECOMARINAS educational campaign, which encourages responsible use of the Baltic Sea and action to protect its future. MARE Foundation invites residents, tourists and the sailing community to take part in the event and join the People of the Sea.
“Change does not always begin with new regulations. Often, it starts with a shift in awareness – in what we pay attention to and the decisions we make every day. Sometimes, all it takes is one person asking a question, pointing something out or showing a different solution to influence the choices of an entire group. This is precisely where the strength of the People of the Sea community lies: in sharing knowledge, good practices and responsibility. That is why the central theme of our event is weaving together people, experiences, nature, art and a shared concern for the Baltic Sea. Because some things can only emerge through encounters, conversations and shared experiences,” says Olga Sarna, President of MARE Foundation.
The highlight of the event in Brzeźno will be the unveiling of the “Are You a Person of the Sea?” art installation by Linda Lemon, a visual artist from the Tri-City. Her work explores the relationship between people and the sea, as well as the threats facing marine ecosystems, combining sculpture, ceramics, textiles and site-specific art. Her latest installation, created for the ECOMARINAS project, is a symbolic invitation to reflect on our relationship with the Baltic Sea, community and responsibility – and to explore what it means to be a Person of the Sea today.
During the “Stories from the Sea” segment, Monika Witkowska, honorary ambassador of the ECOMARINAS campaign, will share the story of her own relationship with the sea. A sailor with more than 40,000 nautical miles under her belt, she has rounded Cape Horn three times, completed the Northwest Passage from Greenland to Alaska, and later spent three months sailing through the polar waters around Chukotka on a pioneering voyage. She is also a mountaineer who has climbed four eight-thousanders and completed the Seven Summits, a traveller who has visited around 180 countries, and an author. In conversation with Olga Sarna, she will share experiences that show how a genuine connection with the sea grows from awareness, respect and responsibility.
“It is not about whether we sail, live by the Baltic Sea or spend our holidays here. It is about an attitude – one rooted in respect, awareness and the belief that the sea is something we all share,” says Monika Witkowska, Ambassador of the ECOMARINAS campaign.
The idea of weaving will be present throughout the day. During the “Sea Weaves” workshops, participants will give used sailing ropes a second life by turning them into macrame water bottle holders in the spirit of upcycling. Younger participants and their families will also be invited to visit MARE Foundation’s educational zone, featuring a poster exhibition, educational games and activities that will help them discover the Baltic Sea through play.
The event is part of the ECOMARINAS campaign, implemented within a project co-financed by the Interreg South Baltic Programme 2021–2027. ECOMARINAS is a joint initiative of eight partners from four countries in the Baltic Sea region. The campaign led by Fundacja MARE aims to promote responsible use of the Baltic Sea and to build a community of People of the Sea – people who believe that caring for the sea begins with our everyday choices and the way we relate to one another, both at sea and on land.
On 30 July in Brzeźno, visitors will not only be able to experience the installation, but also become part of a story that weaves together people from many different walks of life – sailors, marina operators, tourists, travellers and artists – around the Baltic Sea. Because it all begins with connection.
