Founder Statement
Sea Together was founded and is run by artist+surfer B. Ortega since 2017 and is an evolving, community-supported art project.
“I created this project with many goals in mind—I wanted less of the butt shots and more surf culture about highlighting the diversity and creativity of women’s surf culture.
…to learn more about the inspiring women surfers around the world in ways that I had not seen in mainstream surf media or even in a print magazine, and also to highlight and uncover voices not normally heard in mainstream surf media.
…to create access to stories and voices through not only on social media and in print, but also in person.
…to gather the waters of the sea together in support of each other, empowering each other, and encouraging that the differences that make us different can still come together, as the ocean is a place of uniting.
I believe that the tides are changing and that there is a new generation of women surfers rising up to defy the previous standards set before them and to challenge hierarchical power structures within the media to collaborate with each other through positivity and creativity.
I believe that all humans one day will be equal and will have equal representation in surf culture everywhere, and that it will be normal to see diversity represented. But, it will take us to get there. Every one of us creating community and change worldwide makes a difference and if this magazine inspires just one person, or one young girl, then it will be something worthwhile.” - Written December 2017, by B. Ortega, Founder of Sea Together.