CaliforniaDivingNews
Contributor
As part of the Wyland Foundation's mission to inspire the ongoing conservation of our world's water habitats, the Foundation, in partnership with the City of Long Beach, will restore the landmark ocean-themed mural, entitled Ocean Planet, on the Long Beach Arena, 300 E. Ocean Blvd, from April 8-12.
The mural was named the world's largest by the 1993 Guinness Book of World Records. Measuring 1,280 feet by 100 feet, it was originally painted in 1992 by eco-artist Wyland as the 33rd mural of his 100 "Whaling Wall" series. After sixteen years in the sunlight and salty sea air, the mural is fading and peeling and in desperate need of repair. Wyland will take on the restoration work himself to beautify the city in commemoration of Earth Day, April 22. "We're using art as a gateway to conservation," says the artist. "For a lot of people, that's where the concept of a healthy environment really sinks in by visualizing what we are protecting the ocean, marine life, and the natural world around us."
Wyland began his monumental Whaling Wall mural campaign in Laguna Beach, Calif. in 1981 and has since painted 100 life-size marine life murals in nearly 80 cities on five continents. Wyland painted his 100th and final mural in Beijing, China last summer.
Wyland will follow his touching-up of the Long Beach mural, by doing a live painting at the Long Beach SCUBA Show, taking place May 30-31, 2009 at the Long Beach Convention Center. Scuba Show 2009 - May 30th & 31st @ The Long Beach Convention Center
The mural was named the world's largest by the 1993 Guinness Book of World Records. Measuring 1,280 feet by 100 feet, it was originally painted in 1992 by eco-artist Wyland as the 33rd mural of his 100 "Whaling Wall" series. After sixteen years in the sunlight and salty sea air, the mural is fading and peeling and in desperate need of repair. Wyland will take on the restoration work himself to beautify the city in commemoration of Earth Day, April 22. "We're using art as a gateway to conservation," says the artist. "For a lot of people, that's where the concept of a healthy environment really sinks in by visualizing what we are protecting the ocean, marine life, and the natural world around us."
Wyland began his monumental Whaling Wall mural campaign in Laguna Beach, Calif. in 1981 and has since painted 100 life-size marine life murals in nearly 80 cities on five continents. Wyland painted his 100th and final mural in Beijing, China last summer.
Wyland will follow his touching-up of the Long Beach mural, by doing a live painting at the Long Beach SCUBA Show, taking place May 30-31, 2009 at the Long Beach Convention Center. Scuba Show 2009 - May 30th & 31st @ The Long Beach Convention Center
