‘Surfing Madonna’ Fundraiser Slated for Next Week

If you’d like to cheers the man behind the you’ll have your chance next week.

will be at on Thursday, Dec. 8, for a happy hour fundraiser for the reinstallation of the artwork, and benefitting the San Diego Oceans Foundation, a nonprofit that is working to conserve our seas — which is fitting considering Patterson’s mosaic was inspired by that mission and is officially titled Save the Ocean, though most people refer to it as the ‘Surfing Madonna.’

The event is slated for 5 to 8 p.m., and will feature happy hour specials on food and drinks, an auction, and raffle tickets for prizes — including some ‘Surfing Madonna’-inspired art. 

Patterson originally installed the mosaic under a railroad bridge on Encinitas Boulevard, and almost instantly, it became wildly popular, inspiring songs, a , and T-shirts, and garnering national media attention. However, because Patterson did not have permission from the city to place his artwork on public property, he was ordered to . 

Patterson has proposed displaying the mosaic at , near the northwest corner of Coast Highway 101 and Encinitas Boulevard. In September the Encinitas Commission for the Arts agreed to to explore that option.

There is no need to RSVP for the Dec. 8 fundraiser, and there is no admission fee.