Defending the Honor of American Popular Culture

Sarah Beetson has been making visits to Coney Island since 2002. A British Artist and Illustrator who created the 2018 Mermaid Parade Poster, Sarah lives in Australia. She brings a body of work to exhibit about Coney Island that spans 5 years and explores her love of Coney's history as America's playground.

Sarah comes to Coney Island in summer to snap polaroids and fill sketchbooks with drawings of all that she finds here, then returns to Australia to make paintings. She is fascinated by the colourful rides and vernacular signage to be seen offering every edible delicacy available from Surf Avenue to The Boardwalk. She has collaborated on art with local artists including photographer Laure Leber, Fashion Professor Jonathan Kyle Farmer and Sideshow Star Wendy Blades, and these works will be included in the exhibition.

Sarah's work will be on display in the lobby at Coney Island USA from August 7th through 19th. Join her for drinks in The Freak Bar, on Saturday August 10th from 5pm.

Thanks to our Presenting Sponsor Coney Island Brewery, Co- Presenting Sponsors Spectrum News NY1 and Siren Freeform. Mermaid Parade Ball venue Kitchen 21, Parade Sponsors, Participants, Staff, Royalty Arlo Guthrie and Nora Guthrie, Judges, Ball Ticket Purchasers, Ball Performers, Volunteers, Board of Directors, Spectators, NYPD 60th Precinct, New York City Fire Department, New York City Department of Sanitation. Check out Parade coverage on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Pages! See you for the 38th Annual Mermaid Parade, June 20, 2020!