FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 5, 2019

Press Contact: Joanie Steinhaus
joanie@seaturtles.org
(512) 417-7741

New Sea Turtle Statues Announced at Galveston Gala

GALVESTON—Turtle Island Restoration Network and Clay Cup Studios are excited to announce the locations of a dozen additional sea turtle statues to their Turtles About Town program at “The Art of Saving Sea Turtles,” an evening benefit celebrating local sea turtle conservation and community art on Sunday, September 29 at The Bryan Museum in Galveston.

In its second year, “The Art of Saving Sea Turtles” showcases Turtles About Town, the city of Galveston, and the conservation efforts of Turtle Island Restoration Network and their supporters who promote, implement, and contribute to local sea turtle conservation and continuously lead the way in raising awareness and making significant contributions to improve and protect Texas oceans, beaches, and wildlife.

“We are so humbled by the positive feedback our Turtles About Town program has received, and we can’t wait to share the locations of our new turtles with our community,” said Joanie Steinhaus, Gulf Program Director of Turtle Island Restoration Network.

Turtles About Town was created in 2018 to help raise awareness about Turtle Island Restoration Network’s efforts to protect sea turtles on the upper Texas coast while helping drive tourism and business to the local economy. So far, 19 sea turtle statues are installed around Galveston Island, each standing at about 5-feet high and representing a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, the Texas state sea turtle and the world’s most endangered sea turtle. Statues are designed by local artists and sponsored by local businesses and individuals.

“It has been inspiring to see so many talented artist and wonderful business owners come together to provide the public with something that creates joy, as well as brings beauty to our wonderful island,” said Amy Owens, owner of Clay Cup Studios. “I feel very blessed to be a part of it all.”

“This project encompasses so many things that make me proud to be a Galvestonian,” said Jim Yarbrough, Mayor of the City of Galveston. “This concerted effort to bring awareness to what public art can do for a community, as well as the conservation minded effort behind the message is beautifully done and we are proud to have the first statue here at City Hall.”

At the gala, more than 125 friends of community art and sea turtle conservation will enjoy beer and wine, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, and more all to support Turtle Island Restoration Network’s programs to improve and protect Texas oceans, beaches, and wildlife. The gala will include a Kendra Gives Back onsite fundraiser, in which gala guests can purchase a Kendra Scott Mystery Box containing her jewelry valued at $60 to $250 for a $60 donation.

Individual tickets are $100. For more information and to purchase tickets, please contact Joanie Steinhaus by calling (409) 795-8426, email joanie@seaturtles.org, or by visiting www.seaturtles.org/art.

Turtle Island Restoration Network is a nonprofit organization that works to protect and restore populations of endangered sea turtles and marine biodiversity on the Texas coast and throughout the Gulf of Mexico.

Clay Cup Studios is a Galveston Art Studio that offers paint your own pottery, canvas painting, glass fusion and Art’tini.