Saturday, October 3, 2026
Water is an essential part of Long Beach life. Last Sunday, artists and thankful residents gathered on the Boardwalk to recognize and “thank” the local waterways after the creation of more than a dozen painted murals on and around the abandoned Hebrew Academy of Long Beach between Lindell Boulevard and Washington Boulevard.
The mural event was a coordinated effort, pulling together Long Beach resident and homeschool teacher Susan Gallo; her three children and several other students; her husband Darren Gallo, who manages the former Hebrew Academy property; Artists in Partnership; the Long Beach Arts Council and a number of professional artists.
“All of the artists have donated their time which is, to me, mind-blowing,” said Caroline Bailly, board member of the Long Beach Arts Council. “Some of their artwork is very valuable. We have some big-time artists in there. We got really excited. They all came together for the Long Beach community and I think it’s beautiful.”
The murals also served as a fundraiser for the Bioswale Club, created by Gallo and her students, to potentially install a bioswale — a native plant-based garden which filters contaminants from water run-off — along Grand Boulevard.
“I heard about the bioswale and the children,” said Long Island-based artist Jedidiah, who painted a large Triton guarding the sea on the street-facing side of the building. “We have to save our ocean and I feel like our families are the one thing we look to save first. We always want to save our families, so if we treat our oceans like our family, we’ll want to save that just as much as them.”
The ceremony also helped to kickoff the Earth Week Art Trail across the city, which featured multiple workshops and presentations. Michael Albert led an interactive workshop assembling cereal box collages at the Long Beach Public Library. The following day, Melinda McKee, who painted one of the boardwalk murals, taught library attendees how to create living terrariums inside vintage teacups.
The week concluded with an Arts Council fundraiser at Bright Eye Beer Co. featuring live music and jam sessions. The weeklong event also showcased a self-guided walking trail, with more than two dozen art installations scattered across the city.
