Local Spotlight: Meet West Palm Creative & Shredder Mary Glazier

Meet local artist and surf instructor Mary Glazier. She is teaming up with fellow women surfers and artists to spread the stoke and celebrate International Women's Month.

      Photo credit: @zach_guinta

First things first, what is a “gurfer”?

A girl surfer!!

Can you tell me more about your mission behind Gurfer Lady and how it started?

I started teaching lessons as a side hustle during COVID while in between jobs and it just kept picking up! I realized that the few women I surf with on a regular basis only knew how because a dad, brother, boyfriend, or husband had taught them. It frustrated me that most women’s bridge to this incredible hobby is through a man, and that this lifestyle is not as accessible to women.

Why is surfing important to you and why do you believe it’s such a powerful community-building activity?

Surfing to me if a lifestyle, it’s a form of therapy & an incredible workout! There’s truly nothing more embodying than being on your board in the ocean, recovering from your last wave and waiting for the next. One phrase I hear most in my lessons is “it just feels amazing to float out here”.

Any words of advice for women who have always wanted to try surfing but still haven’t made the leap?

Get out there with someone! No, you won’t be eaten by sharks. Yes, you’ll wipeout & fall but it’s worth it! Don’t go alone, find a friend that knows what they’re doing or take a lesson! When I was first starting I never had lessons, it took a long time to learn what I could’ve from an instructor.

What inspires your collages and embroidery and can you share more about your creative process?

I think my curiosity inspires most of my collages and embroidery. I love to find funky pictures in old books and play around with scaling them in a way that reality can’t. Most of my pieces come out of the question “what if”. As for my embroidery pieces, I create most of these out of an up-cycling mentality, an effort to beautify second hand fabrics & clothing items. (Shoutout to Resource Depot for being the best second hand craft store in WPB)

Tell us more about the other vendors joining you in March!

The other Gurfer vendors are all ladies that I surf with in the lineup or help with my lessons. I fully believe that a surfing lifestyle activates creativity in so many different ways. We have a singer song writer, gardener, graphic designer and surfboard shaper. I believe many brands try to emulate surf culture but many aren’t surfers. I wanted to create a market that supports our local surfers’ art forms.

Why do you love to call West Palm Beach home?

I’ve lived here 8 years and ever since I started mopeding I think I’ve fallen in love with West Palm more than ever. In one moped ride, I can mail out business matters, grab a quality breaky, check the surf and cruise through the night life. And that whole moped ride will be next to the water or under flawless palms & foliage. There’s so much in a sweet little city!