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Artist Wyland to transform McNab Road buffer into 'whaling wall'
By Lisa J. Huriash | South Florida Sun-Sentinel May 20, 2008 Article tools
NORTH LAUDERDALE - It will be the only marine life in this landlocked city.
In a few weeks, the artist known simply as Wyland will paint a sea life mural on the 1,000-foot-long wall on the north side of McNab Road, between Rock Island Road and Avon Lane. The 10-foot-tall buffer wall abuts the Fountains neighborhood of single-family homes.
Wyland, a conservation-minded artist based in California, is coming to North Lauderdale on a mission: completing his goal of painting 100 murals he calls "whaling walls" within 30 years. He started in 1981 and North Lauderdale will be No. 99. A mural he plans to paint July 7-21 in Beijing International Sculpture Park, an Olympic gathering spot in China, will be No. 100.
"I think it's a coup for North Lauderdale to get this," said Commissioner David Hilton. "It puts our city on the map."
Wyland has already put Long Beach, Calif., into the Guinness Book of Records. In 1992 he painted the world's biggest mural on the city's convention center.
Now, at the request of City Manager Richard Sala, Wyland is bringing his paints, crew and vision to North Lauderdale for nine days beginning June 6.
The muralist won't decide exactly what he'll paint until he picks up his brush, but Steve Creech, his spokesman and project director, predicted he'll include the smaller whales that live or migrate off the Florida coast, plus dolphins, manatees, manta rays and reef fish.
The focus will be coral reefs, said Wyland, speaking by cell phone from Brazil, where he finished wall No. 98 on Friday. He said he is inspired by diving in the Florida Keys, where he has a home. Also, 2008 is the International Year of the Reef.
"It's not only about the art, it's about the message — clean water and healthy oceans," he said. "Whether you live inland or on the beach, everyone is important and needs to be part of conservation efforts, and I truly believe art can play a very important role in conservation and the environment. It will be seen as thousands of people drive by each day."
He'll use an estimated 80 gallons of paint: white, deep teal, black, yellow, red, deep blue, medium blue, light horizon blue and deep green.
Wyland said schoolchildren from throughout South Florida will be invited to come and watch — and pick up a paint brush.
His work is already visible in South Florida. He has painted several whale murals in the Keys and Miami, plus a manatee mural on the Shooters building on the Intracoastal Waterway in Fort Lauderdale.
"The concept is Johnny Appleseed — donating these murals around the world in the interest of marine conservation and awareness," Creech said.
But not everybody sees the value.
Even though Wyland is donating his time, and a company may donate the paint, former city commissioner Bruce Tumin said he is disappointed the city has allocated as much as $20,000 to spend on hotel stays for Wyland and his eight-member crew, as well as other expenses such as sealant to prevent graffiti.
"How many kids can we put through summer camp for $20,000?" Tumin said.
He noted the city complains about Tallahassee's budget-cutting measures, even going so far as to pass a resolution to divide the state into North Florida and South Florida.
"Our commission decided to pass an ordinance to split the state because they were concerned about the revenue coming from Tallahassee. But they spend their money on the wrong things," he said.
"Our commission is like they are in a candy store," Tumin said. "They love to buy things."
Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at lhuriash@sun-sentinel.com or 954-572-2008.
Artist Wyland to transform McNab Road buffer into 'whaling wall'
By Lisa J. Huriash | South Florida Sun-Sentinel May 20, 2008 Article tools
NORTH LAUDERDALE - It will be the only marine life in this landlocked city.
In a few weeks, the artist known simply as Wyland will paint a sea life mural on the 1,000-foot-long wall on the north side of McNab Road, between Rock Island Road and Avon Lane. The 10-foot-tall buffer wall abuts the Fountains neighborhood of single-family homes.
Wyland, a conservation-minded artist based in California, is coming to North Lauderdale on a mission: completing his goal of painting 100 murals he calls "whaling walls" within 30 years. He started in 1981 and North Lauderdale will be No. 99. A mural he plans to paint July 7-21 in Beijing International Sculpture Park, an Olympic gathering spot in China, will be No. 100.
"I think it's a coup for North Lauderdale to get this," said Commissioner David Hilton. "It puts our city on the map."
Wyland has already put Long Beach, Calif., into the Guinness Book of Records. In 1992 he painted the world's biggest mural on the city's convention center.
Now, at the request of City Manager Richard Sala, Wyland is bringing his paints, crew and vision to North Lauderdale for nine days beginning June 6.
The muralist won't decide exactly what he'll paint until he picks up his brush, but Steve Creech, his spokesman and project director, predicted he'll include the smaller whales that live or migrate off the Florida coast, plus dolphins, manatees, manta rays and reef fish.
The focus will be coral reefs, said Wyland, speaking by cell phone from Brazil, where he finished wall No. 98 on Friday. He said he is inspired by diving in the Florida Keys, where he has a home. Also, 2008 is the International Year of the Reef.
"It's not only about the art, it's about the message — clean water and healthy oceans," he said. "Whether you live inland or on the beach, everyone is important and needs to be part of conservation efforts, and I truly believe art can play a very important role in conservation and the environment. It will be seen as thousands of people drive by each day."
He'll use an estimated 80 gallons of paint: white, deep teal, black, yellow, red, deep blue, medium blue, light horizon blue and deep green.
Wyland said schoolchildren from throughout South Florida will be invited to come and watch — and pick up a paint brush.
His work is already visible in South Florida. He has painted several whale murals in the Keys and Miami, plus a manatee mural on the Shooters building on the Intracoastal Waterway in Fort Lauderdale.
"The concept is Johnny Appleseed — donating these murals around the world in the interest of marine conservation and awareness," Creech said.
But not everybody sees the value.
Even though Wyland is donating his time, and a company may donate the paint, former city commissioner Bruce Tumin said he is disappointed the city has allocated as much as $20,000 to spend on hotel stays for Wyland and his eight-member crew, as well as other expenses such as sealant to prevent graffiti.
"How many kids can we put through summer camp for $20,000?" Tumin said.
He noted the city complains about Tallahassee's budget-cutting measures, even going so far as to pass a resolution to divide the state into North Florida and South Florida.
"Our commission decided to pass an ordinance to split the state because they were concerned about the revenue coming from Tallahassee. But they spend their money on the wrong things," he said.
"Our commission is like they are in a candy store," Tumin said. "They love to buy things."
Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at lhuriash@sun-sentinel.com or 954-572-2008.
The museum vigorously edited the films a few years ago and cut out most of the gore.
