Floating Art Exhibition

Thursday, July 23rd, 2026

Sailboats adorned with painted sails will cruise once again as a floating art exhibition on Presque Isle Bay, Erie, Pa hosted by the Erie Yacht Club. The sailboats will be sailed by Women on the Water (WOW) sailing program. The Sailcloth Art Project connects artists and sailors to empower community building through the visual arts.

Heather Hertel collaborated with SRU Art majors to create large-scale paintings on recycled J22 sails, each consisting of a mainsail and a jib integrated into one moving composition. Hertel oversaw the design process, taught her students how to paint on sailcloth while sharing the mechanics of sailing. Sail designs are abstract shapes and colors emulating water and sailing imagery. One sail design is a compass, a sunset, seaweed and the free movement of wind and air over water.

Sail Route Details:

Launch: Reyburn Sailing School, Erie Yacht Club at 5:45pm

Route: From Vista 3 (third parking lot upon entering the Park) towards Perry Monument

End: Reyburn Sailing Center, Erie Yacht Club before sunset