An art exhibit honoring one of Florence’s most influential innovators has been extended, giving visitors additional time to experience a distinctive fusion of sport and design. The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce announced that its showcase of handcrafted sandboards by internationally recognized sandboarding pioneer Lon Beale will now remain on display through February 2026 due to continued public interest.
Originally scheduled to conclude in January, the exhibit’s extension reflects strong community response and steady visitor traffic at the Chamber’s Visitor Center and Art Gallery, located at 290 Highway 101. The collection highlights Beale’s custom-built sandboards and sand sleds, presenting them not only as high performance sporting equipment but as striking works of functional art.
Beale, widely known in the sandboarding community as “Dr. Dune,” has spent decades shaping the sport both athletically and creatively. The exhibit features eight handcrafted sandboards and two sand sleds produced in Florence under his Venomous Sandboards and Monarch Sandboards brands. Each piece blends digital graphic design with hand painted elements, incorporating bold imagery and vivid compositions that transform the boards into display worthy creations.
Bettina Hannigan, president and chief executive officer of the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce, praised the exhibit’s impact. “Oh. My. Goodness! People have no idea how beautiful a sandboard can be,” Hannigan said. “These boards are bold, graphic, polished, and absolutely breathtaking. Lon Beale is an artistic genius.”
Beale and his wife, Robin, chose Florence as their home in 2000 after traveling extensively in search of ideal sandboarding terrain. They founded Sand Master Park, recognized as the world’s first sandboarding park, further establishing Florence’s reputation as a global dune sports destination. Beale, who has ridden dunes on nearly every continent, attributes the sport’s success in Florence to both geography and community support. “Florence has some of the most rideable sand on the planet,” he said. “It’s abundant, accessible, and paired with a community that has supported us from day one.”
In addition to his role in developing competitive sandboarding through Dune Riders International, Beale brings more than 40 years of experience in graphic design and arts education. His innovations in board construction, including wet sand boards and sled designs, have helped make the sport more accessible year round.
The exhibit is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center and Art Gallery. More information is available at FlorenceChamber.com or by calling 541 997 3128.