Marine Art Program: “The Beauty and Challenges of Life Above and Below the Piscataqua River”

Middle and High School Students Only (Grades 6-12)

·         Week long: July 21-25 2025;   $450/student for the week Thanks to a donor, Limited Scholarships available for Maine students with need.

9:00 am - 3:00 pm

      Maximum 25 students (minimum 15)

       Drop-off/pick-up Location: 

Days 1-3: 66 Ceres Street, Portsmouth (Portsmouth Harbor Cruises, near tugboats) 

Days 4-5 Kittery Art Association, 2 Walker St, Kittery, ME 03904 (Kittery Foreside)

OVERVIEW: Join us for an immersive journey into the dynamic relationship between marine life on the surface and below the Piscataqua River and its estuaries. Students will board the M/V Utopia, a 38-foot U.S. Coast Guard-inspected lobster boat, transforming it into a mobile classroom. With guidance from marine scientists and artists, students will explore marine habitats and gain firsthand experience of the ecosystem’s beauty and challenges. This unique program blends marine ecology education with artistic practice, offering middle and high school students the chance to creatively explore and portray the Piscataqua River region. 

Days 1-3 On board the 38’ lobster boat, Utopia and at Wood Island Life Saving Station

Students will get out on the water on the 38’ lobster boat, Utopia, with marine biologists and engineers to explore below the Piscataqua River with Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV)—Think underwater drone/camera!- and explore on-shore the tide pools and coastline of Wood Island (located at the mouth of the Piscataqua River). Students will capture ROV video footage and personal photography to inspire artwork.

Learn various artistic techniques: Students will engage with local artists and explore various artistic mediums to express their interpretations of marine life, including watercolor painting, cyanotype printing, sculpture, videography. They will select one medium to create their art project and start to work on that project while continuing to be inspired by the ocean environment on Wood Island at the Life Saving Station.

Days 4-5 Kittery Art Association’s Hub

Students will continue to develop their creative projects at the Kittery Art Association’s HUB studio working alongside artists to finalize their work.

Community Showcase: Students will write artist statements during the program and present their works in an art exhibit in September. This exhibit will highlight marine conservation and spark community dialogue about the preservation of marine life above and below the Piscataqua River.

Fee includes: CoastX T-Shirt and hat, art materials, boat transportation, art and marine experts.  Does NOT include Lunch (students to bring their own lunch)

Additional Notes: All students required to wear CoastX provided new lifejackets while on docks/boat. Some of the program happens on the 38' boat with a captain and crew.  There will be at least 3 additional CoastX program adults working with students as part of the program at all times.