Prize Piece Contest 2023

Mary McCarthy: Mary McCarthy is former Vice President of the North American Sea Glass Association and founder of The Beachcombing Center. She has lectured and judged at many sea glass festivals nationwide. She is a candlemaker at tidingscandle.com, lifelong journalist, reiki master, kayaker and mother of four on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. 

Krista Houghton: Santa Cruz Sea Glass artist and founder of the festival in 2009, Krista's experience as a sea glass collector and jewelry maker is extensive, including publishing a book about the history of Davenport Seaglass using interviews with her friend Mary Lundberg. 

Rex Nockengust of Beach Glass Bingo. Rex has been an avid sea glass collector and artisan for many years. He served as a board member for the North American Seaglass Association. While on the board, he was in charge of the Shard of the Year Contest, and has been a judge ever since. Rex, along with his husband Gene Allen, are the co-artists for Beach Glass Bingo, a sea glass jewelry company they formed while living in Hawaii in 2000. Today he lives in San Diego and travels around the country doing fine art shows and Sea Glass Festivals.

Sage Harmon of Sea Glass Hoe Jewelry:  Usually if you want to talk to Sage, your best chance is to catch him at one of several secluded coves along the California coast. He is a lifelong beachcomber and weaver, who now creates one-of-a-kind jewelry with the sea glass he finds. His work has been worn by the USA Olympic women's team as well as soul music legend, Patti Labelle. Now, as a professional educator, he will discuss Iconic Beach Finds at the Santa Cruz Sea Glass and Ocean Arts Festival.