When artist Sam Goodlet joined Soroptimist International Tynemouth,Whitley Bay and District last year, she never expected to be producing an installation for the celebration of Ocean Day and North Tyneside Coast 09 Programme of Events. “Beyond the Distance”was an environmental art installation situated on the beach bed near The Boardwalk Restaurant, where the ocean acted as a direct window to the world. A 15 foot washing line constructed on the beach with 9 visual panels represented the regeneration of life, re-growth, and layers of time. In spite of the bitterly cold windy weather over 300 people visited the workshops, including families, life guards and fellow Soroptimists who enjoyed the workshops over 2 days. They interacted with the installation by painting a stone in response to the works, the ocean and environmental place on the sand. They too became part of the works and a beautiful path of colour emerged below the panels text. This was a wonderful opportunity for parents, children and adults to appreciate the visual result and reflect on it as they worked. The event was a true celebration of our beautiful coastline and Sam hopes to develop other installtions in partnership with North Tyneside.