The artist residency closes: The estuary is not still
Last Friday, September 25, 2026, we celebrated the closing of the Martorell and Friends Artist Residency at the San Juan Bay Estuary. The Raúl Juliá Theater at the Puerto Rico Museum of Art (MAPR) hosted the event to share the results of this project, which, from its inception, made water its guiding thread and collective work its mode of creation.
Pedro Adorno, co-founder of the Agua, Sol y Sereno collective , served as the presenter for the evening.
As part of the opening, Brenda Torres Barreto, executive director of the Estuary, and Dr. María Cristina Gaztambide, from MAPR, shared a few words about future collaborations between both organizations.
The program began with the first screening of the documentary, The Estuary Is Not Still , directed by José “Jochie” Raúl Ortíz, one of the ten friends from 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 comprised the residency, from its beginning in May 2025 to its conclusion in September 2026.
We will release the documentary soon. The estuary is not still.
Stay tuned to our updates and social media for more information.
Following the screening, a discussion 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 for the sharing of different perspectives and experiences about the residency process.
During the activity, the postcard prepared by Taller de la Playa and the model of the book developed to document this residency were also exhibited.
Download the digital version of the book, The estuary is not still, HERETo receive a printed copy, please contact our office at 787-725-8165 or write to us at: [email protected].
The celebration concluded with a cocktail reception hosted by Plaza Cellars and Ballester Hermanos. Chef Mai-Ling Cabán, along with Goya from 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. We hope to continue creating spaces for connection between art, communities, and our waters. We count on your support to make it happen!
Media coverage
Top Estuarine News! See the coverage of the closure of "The Estuary is Not Still ," via El Nuevo Día:
Richard I. Colón Badillo. September 25, 2026. “We are still in a position to save it”: Antonio Martorell uses art and words in defense of water. Local News. 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. This is how “The Estuary Is Not Still” closed. Magazine. El Nuevo Día. Web. https://www.elnuevodia.com/magacin/sociales/fotogalerias/asi-fue-el-cierre-de-el-estuario-no-esta-quieto/
Family day out
Join us for the next Family Day Out at the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Jaime Benítez Park, in celebration of bats and migratory birds. We'll have talks, games, and an educational tour. See the schedule of activities at: estuary.org/events
There will be an opportunity to accumulate Green Contact hours or community service. All minors must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is not required. For more information, write to us at: [email protected]
Estuary Cinema
Estuary Cinema presents: The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants; Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 7:00 pm at Jaime Benítez Park in Condado Lagoon. The film will be shown in Spanish with English subtitles. This screening is free. Bring your blanket or chair.
Citizen Scientist Certification
Join the workshops and field experiences offered by the Estuary Citizen Scientist Certification . Remember that these count toward Green Contact 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, October 8, at 9:30 am at County Lagoon
Water Quality Monitoring Workshop: Bacteriological Monitoring ; Thursday, October 8th, at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Water Quality Monitoring Workshop: Physical-Chemical Parameters ; Tuesday, October 13, at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Field Experience: Bacteriological Monitoring; Thursday, October 15, at 9:30 am at County Lagoon
Participatory Bird Census Module
Field experience; Saturday, October 10, at 7:00 am in the Piñones State Forest
Coastal Resilience Module
Coastal Resilience Workshop: Ecological Assessment of Coral Reefs and Seagrasses ; Thursday, October 15; at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Field Experience: Planting Coastal Vegetation; Saturday, October 17, at 8:00 am at the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve
Weekly bacteriological monitoring
Thanks to the volunteers who supported the bacteriological monitoring in County Lagoon and adjacent coastal areas on Thursday, October 1, 2026, as part of the Estuary Citizen Scientist Certification Water Quality Monitoring module. The results are below.
Assessment conducted on Thursday, October 1, 2026. We have a GREEN flag for County Lagoon. We recommend avoiding the area that exceeded the "Beach Action Value" water quality parameter for enterococci of 70 CFU/100 ML. Remember to avoid the water during rain events. Have a good weekend.
