Part three in a series on San Diego’s roadside relics — dinosaurs, doll heads and other oddities
In 2011, people traveling through Encinitas noticed something unexpected beneath a train bridge overpass near Coast Highway 101: a colorful mosaic depicting the Virgin of Guadalupe riding a surfboard with the message “SAVE THE OCEAN.”
There was no public unveiling. No announcement. The artwork appeared — and almost immediately became one of North County’s most talked-about examples of public art.
Created by Encinitas artist Mark Patterson, the 10-foot-by-10-foot glass mosaic combined religious imagery, surf culture and an environmental message. The image reflected the region’s connection to the ocean and Patterson’s passion for marine conservation.
The story behind its arrival was nearly as surprising as the artwork itself.
According to Robert Nichols, who helped Patterson install the mosaic, the project had been a closely guarded secret.
Nichols said Patterson spent nearly two years secretly working on what would become the Surfing Madonna in his garage before the mosaic appeared in public.
“For nearly two years, Mark secretly worked on what would become the Surfing Madonna, hidden away in his garage. No one knew what he was creating,” Nichols said.
Beacon’s Beach
Patterson originally considered installing the mosaic at Beacon’s Beach but abandoned the idea because salt air and moisture could damage the artwork. The group then focused on another location.
“Beneath the train bridge overpass was this beautiful concrete recessed area that looked almost as though it had been built specifically to hold the mosaic,” Nichols said.
Installing the artwork required careful planning. Patterson and Nichols, dressed in hard hats and reflective vests, used traffic cones to make themselves appear to be a construction crew.
At one point, Nichols recalled that they explained they were “taking calibration measurements on the bridge.”
The installation was completed quietly, and the Surfing Madonna was revealed to the public on April 22, 2011.
The timing later became one of the most memorable parts of the story. Although many people associate the mosaic with Earth Day, Nichols said the date was not intentional.
“Only afterward did the significance of the date really sink in. The Surfing Madonna with its message ‘SAVE THE OCEAN’ had been installed completely by chance on April 22, Earth Day. We had never planned it that way,” Nichols said.
Attracting attention
Nichols recalled that a major apartment fire in Encinitas drew police and firefighters away from the area, allowing the group to complete the installation.
Afterward, the team celebrated their accomplishment with pizza across the street while looking back at the completed artwork.
The Surfing Madonna’s unexpected arrival quickly created debate.
Because it had been installed on public property without official approval, the city removed the mosaic in June 2011, citing permitting and installation concerns. What might have been the end of the story instead sparked a larger conversation about public art, shared spaces, and what constitutes a landmark.
Community symbol
The response from residents and supporters helped transform the mosaic from a controversial installation into a symbol of community involvement. People who connected with the artwork pushed for its preservation and for a location where it could remain accessible to the public.
After a temporary display at Café Ipe, the Surfing Madonna eventually found a permanent home on the exterior wall of Leucadia Pizzeria along Coast Highway 101 in 2013, allowing visitors to continue seeing the artwork that had become part of Encinitas’ coastal identity.
Patterson’s story also has a deeply personal chapter.
Losing Mark
According to Nichols, Mark Patterson died on Sept. 20, 2023, at age 70 after living with dementia.
Nichols said he first noticed changes in Patterson around 2010, when his friend began experiencing moments of confusion and forgetfulness. Despite those challenges, Patterson remained active and independent for several years.
In 2016, Nichols and his wife welcomed Patterson into their home, where he lived until 2022, when his condition progressed and he moved into a memory care facility.
“Mark was a true gift to humanity,” Nichols said. “He touched countless lives, brought something meaningful into this world and left it better because he was here.”
Although Patterson is gone, his work continues to connect people through the message that inspired the Surfing Madonna: protecting the ocean and celebrating the community that surrounds it.
Still visiting
More than a decade later, visitors still stop to photograph the mosaic, and it remains a recognizable piece of Encinitas history.
Its appeal comes not only from the image itself, but from the unusual path it took — from a secret project in a garage to a community landmark.
“The Surfing Madonna was never just a beautiful piece of art. It became the beginning of something much larger,” Nichols said.
Learn more about the Surfing Madonna Oceans Project here, a community inspired by Mark Patterson’s Surfing Madonna mosaic.
“His artistic vision and spirit of environmental preservation encourage us to share our skills and resources to promote public displays of artistic expression, create experiences of joy in natural environments, promote ocean awareness, and save the ocean for all to enjoy.”
Read more history stories here.
Sources:
Surfing Madonna Oceans Project
Mark Patterson artist background and Surfing Madonna history
Robert Nichols interview and recollections
Local news coverage of the 2011 installation, removal,l and relocation
City of Encinitas public records regarding installation and permitting issues
