Close of artistic residency: The Estuary is not quiet
On Friday, September 25, 2026, we celebrated the closing of the artistic residency of Martorell and his friends as Artists-in-Residence with the San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership (SJBEP). The Raúl Juliá Theater of the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico (MAPR) served as the venue where we shared the results of this project that, from its beginnings, made water its common thread and the collective, its mode of creation.
Pedro Adorno, co-founder of the Agua, Sol y Sereno collective, served as the evening’s presenter.
As part of the opening, Brenda Torres Barreto, executive director of SJBEP, and Dr. María Cristina Gaztambide, from MAPR, shared a few words about future collaborations between the two organizations.
The programming gave way to the first screening of the documentary, The Estuary is not quiet; directed by José “Jochie” Raúl Ortíz, one of the ten friends of the Ponce Beach Workshop who accompanied Maestro Antonio Martorell during this residency. Over the course of a year of collaboration, Ortíz documented the workshops and their processes, interactions, reactions, and sounds, creating an audiovisual record of the experiences that were part of the residency, from its beginning in May 2025 to its conclusion in September 2026.
We will publish the documentary soon.
Stay tuned to our updates and social media for more informationl.
After the screening, a conversation was held with Maestro Antonio Martorell; Brenda Torres Barreto; Mariana Reyes, cultural manager and director of Taller Comunidad La Goyco; and José “Jochie” Raúl Ortíz. The conversation allowed us to share different perspectives and experiences about the process lived during the residency.
During the activity, the postcard prepared by Taller de la Playa and the model of the book developed to document this residence were also exhibited.
Download the digital version of the book: El Estuario no está quieto, HERE. To receive a printed copy call our office: 787-725-8165 or email us at: [email protected].
The celebration concluded with a cocktail courtesy of Plaza Cellars and Ballester Hermanos. Chef Mai-Ling Cabán, together with Goya de Puerto Rico, delighted the guests with an exquisite paella.
Those present enjoyed a tour of the pieces developed as part of the artistic residency.
The event marked the official closing of a historic residency that, for a year, fostered encounters between artists, communities, and the San Juan Bay Estuary (SJBE). We hope to continue creating spaces for art, communities, and our waters to meet. We count on your support to make it possible!
Media coverage
Front page estuarine news! See the coverage of the artistic residence, El Estuario no está quieto, via El Nuevo Día:
Richard I. Colón Badillo. September 25, 2026. “Todavía estamos en posición de salvarla”: Antonio Martorell usa el arte y la palabra en defensa del agua. Locales. El Nuevo Día. Web. https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/locales/notas/todavia-estamos-en-posicion-de-salvarla-antonio-martorell-usa-el-arte-y-la-palabra-en-defensa-del-agua/
September 30, 2026. Así fue el cierre de “El Estuario no está Quieto”. Magacín. El Nuevo Día. Web. https://www.elnuevodia.com/magacin/sociales/fotogalerias/asi-fue-el-cierre-de-el-estuario-no-esta-quieto/
Family Day
Join us for the next Family Day at the Condado Lagoon Natural Estuarine Reserve, on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Jaime Benítez Park, in celebration of bats and migratory birds. We will have workshops, games, and an educational trail. See the calendar of activities at: estuario.org/eventos
There will be an opportunity to accumulate Contacto Verde or community service hours. All minors must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is not required. For more information, write to us at: [email protected]
Cine del Estuario
Cine del Estuario presents: The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants; on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at Jaime Benitez Park at Condado Lagoon. The film will be screened in Spanish, with English subtitles. This screening is free of charge. Bring your blanket or chair.
Certification for Citizen Scientists
Join the workshops and field experiences of the SJBEP Certification for Citizen Scientists. Remember that they count towards Contacto Verde or community service hours. All minors must be accompanied by an adult, who must register separately.
Water Quality Monitoring Module
Field Experience: Bacteriological Monitoring; Thursday, Oct. 8, at 9:30 a.m. at the Condado Lagoon
Water Quality Monitoring Workshop: Bacteriological Monitoring; Thursday, October 8, at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom
Water Quality Monitoring Workshop: Physical-chemical parameters; on Tuesday, October 13, at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom
Field Experience: Bacteriological Monitoring; Thursday, Oct. 15, at 9:30 a.m. at the Condado Lagoon
Participatory Bird Census Module
Field experience; Saturday, October 10, at 7:00 a.m. in the Piñones State Forest
Coastal Resilience Module
Coastal Resilience Workshop: Ecological Assessment of Coral Reefs and Seagrass; Thursday, October 15; 7:00 p.m. on Zoom
Field Experience: Planting coastal vegetation; Saturday, October 17, at 8:00 a.m. at the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve
Weekly water quality monitoring
Thanks to the volunteers who supported the bacteriological monitoring in Condado Lagoon and nearby beaches on Thursday, October 1, 2026, as part of the Water Quality Monitoring module of the SJBEP Certification for Citizen Scientists. Up next, the results.
Evaluation carried out on Thursday, October 1, 2026. We have a GREEN flag for the County Lagoon. We recommend avoiding the area that exceeded the water quality parameter “Beach Action Value” for 70 CFU/100 ML enterococcus. Remember to avoid water during rainy events. Have a good weekend.
