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{{short description|American muralist}}
{{Short description|American muralist (born 1956)}}
[[File:Wyland on the Norwegian Bliss 20190806 121515.jpg|thumb|Wyland in 2019]]
[[File:Wyland on the Norwegian Bliss 20190806 121515.jpg|thumb|Wyland in 2019]]
[[File:Wyland paints a monk seal (6741930467).jpg|thumb|Wyland painting a mural on a former military barracks now part of the [[Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge]]]]
[[File:Wyland paints a monk seal (6741930467).jpg|thumb|Wyland painting a mural on a former military barracks now part of the [[Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge]]]]
[[File:Wyland.jpg|thumb|Wyland's signature on a mural at the [[Long Beach Arena]]]]
[[File:Wyland.jpg|thumb|Wyland's signature on a mural at the [[Long Beach Arena]]]]
'''Wyland''' (born July 9, 1956), is an American artist best known for his 100 [[List of Whaling Walls|''Whaling Walls'']], large outdoor murals featuring images of life-size whales, and other sea life.<ref>Gould, Whitney (9 June 1997). [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1683&dat=19970609&id=w-sbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ki4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6779,726417 "Whaling Wall' Project Offers A Lot To Ponder, As Well As See"]. ''[[Milwaukee Sentinel]]''. Retrieved 11 September 2014.</ref>
'''Wyland''' (born July 9, 1956) is an American artist and conservationist best known for his more than 100 [[List of Whaling Walls|''Whaling Walls'']], large outdoor murals featuring images of life-size whales and other sea life to call attention to the plight of whales throughout the world.


==Life and career==
== Life and career ==
A native of [[Madison Heights, Michigan]], Wyland began painting as a child and attended Detroit's [[Center for Creative Studies]] in the 1970s.<ref>Arrellano, Christopher (24 April 1983). [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1915&dat=19930424&id=zqMtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QnMFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4909,5180032 "Artist In Town To Check Out His 'canvas'"], pp. A1, A8. ''[[The Day (New London)|The Day]]''. Retrieved 11 September 2014.</ref> Wyland's connection with whales began when he was 14 on a visit with his family to [[Laguna Beach, California]] where he saw the ocean for the first time and witnessed several gray whales migrating down the California coast towards Mexico.{{Citation needed|date=June 2015}} In 1977 he moved to Laguna Beach and in 1981 painted the first of his 100 ''Whaling Walls'' at a Laguna Beach parking lot.{{Citation needed|date=June 2015}}
A native of [[Madison Heights, Michigan]], Wyland began painting as a child and attended Detroit's [[Center for Creative Studies]] in the 1970s.<ref>Arrellano, Christopher (24 April 1993). [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1915&dat=19930424&id=zqMtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QnMFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4909,5180032 "Artist In Town To Check Out His 'canvas'"], pp. A1, A8. ''[[The Day (New London)|The Day]]''. Retrieved 11 September 2014.</ref> His connection with whales began when he was 14 on a visit with his family to [[Laguna Beach, California]] where he saw the ocean for the first time and witnessed several gray whales migrating down the California coast towards Mexico.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pinho|first=Faith E.|date=July 20, 2019|title=Wyland returns his 'whaling wall' to its original spot in Laguna Beach|url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/story/2019-07-19/wyland-returns-his-whaling-wall-to-its-original-spot-in-laguna-beach|access-date=August 11, 2020|website=Los Angeles Times {{!}} Daily Pilot}}</ref> In 1977 he moved to Laguna Beach and in 1981 painted his first ''The Whaling Wall'' mural on the large wall of a Laguna Beach hotel parking lot. This original 1981 mural was obliterated in 1996 when it was painted over in a property ownership dispute. Wyland re-created the mural at nearly the same location with painted ceramic tile in 1996, followed by a wall-mounted canvas addition in 2019 when he included the additional title ''Gray Whale and Calf''.<ref name="SS">{{cite web |last1=Benningfield |first1=Damond |title=Whaling Walls |url=https://www.scienceandthesea.org/program/whaling-walls |website=Science and the Sea |access-date=1 June 2023}}</ref><ref name="WWW">{{cite web |title=Wyland Whaling Walls |url=https://wylandfoundation.org/about/wyland-whaling-walls/ |website=Wyland Foundation |access-date=1 June 2023}}</ref>


In 1993, he founded the non-profit Wyland Foundation "to help children rediscover the wonder of the ocean through art" (according to Steve Creech, the foundation's President) and to finance his ''Whaling Wall'' murals.<ref>Creech, Steve (June 2013). [https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-332021565 "Wyland: Artist and Conservationist"]{{dead link|date=July 2021}}. ''Arts and Activities''.</ref><ref>Tobias, Lucy (25 October 2000). [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=20001025&id=WWAxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dggEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5355,4667305 "Crowds Gather To Watch Artist At Work In Homosassa"], pp. 1B and 6B. ''[[Ocala Star-Banner]]''.</ref> Wyland's largest ocean mural sets an international record of over three acres in area, on the exterior of the [[Long Beach Convention Center]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Boxall|first=Bettina|date=December 12, 1991|title=Project: Art: City officials and renowned artist paint a deal to create the world's largest mural|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-12-12-hl-170-story.html|access-date=August 11, 2020|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Connelly|first=Laylan|date=November 8, 2018|title=Where's Wyland? Iconic, massive, marine..|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2018/11/08/wheres-wyland-iconic-massive-marine-artwork-is-easy-to-spot-along-southern-california-coast/|access-date=August 11, 2020|website=Orange County Register}}</ref> Wyland's 100th ''Whaling Wall'' was painted in [[Beijing]] in 2008.<ref>[[Environment News Service|ENS]] (27 June 2008). [http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/green/Wyland_to_Paint_100th_Whaling_Wall_Mural_in_Beijing_All__National_.html "Wyland to Paint 100th Whaling Wall Mural in Beijing"]. NBC New York. Retrieved 11 September 2014.</ref> His foundation has since expanded its work to include other environmental initiatives such as sponsorship of the National Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation.<ref>[[Tucson, Arizona|City of Tucson]] (2014). [http://water.tucsonaz.gov/water/challenge "National Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation"]. Retrieved 11 September 2014.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-22|title=Sacramento aiming to win national water conservation challenge|url=https://www.kcra.com/article/sacramento-aiming-win-water-conservation-challenge/36193294|access-date=2021-07-04|website=KCRA|language=en}}</ref>
By 1997, his commercial work (sold through 25 Wyland galleries) and licensed merchandise sold at zoos and other outlets had become a multimillion-dollar business.<ref>Reese, Joel (30 September 1997). [https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-69423601 "Worshiping at the Whaling Wall His New Mural in Downtown Chicago Thrills His Fans, but Critics Say Wyland Is a Better Self-Promoter Than an Artist"]. [[Daily Herald (Arlington Heights)|''Daily Herald'' (Arlington Heights)]]. Retrieved 11 September 2014 via [[Questia Online Library]] {{subscription}}.</ref><ref>Pfister, Darlene (5 September 1997). [https://web.archive.org/web/20140921210113/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-62615540.html "Artist Wyland creates whale of a mural"]. ''[[Star-Tribune]]''. Retrieved 11 September 2014 via [[HighBeam Research]] {{subscription}}.</ref> His artwork has been used on [[Vehicle registration plates of the United States#Vanity and specialty plates|specialty license plate]]s in California and Florida and for a series of four United nations stamps issued in 2010 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the [[Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission]].<ref>Skirble, Rosanne (6 June 2010). [http://www.voanews.com/content/marine-artist-receives-stamp-of-approval-95764244/162920.html "Marine Artist Receives Stamp of Approval"]. [[Voice of America]]. Retrieved 11 September 2014.</ref><ref>Rosenblatt, Susannah (25 June 2008). [http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jun/25/local/me-whale25 "Artist's whale request causes a flap"]. ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. Retrieved 11 September 2014.</ref>


By 1997, his commercial work (sold through Wyland Galleries LLC) and licensed merchandise sold at zoos and other outlets had become a multimillion-dollar business supporting both his galleries and his non-profit endeavors for the conservation of coasts and waterways.<ref>Reese, Joel (30 September 1997). [https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-69423601 "Worshiping at the Whaling Wall His New Mural in Downtown Chicago Thrills His Fans, but Critics Say Wyland Is a Better Self-Promoter Than an Artist"]{{dead link|date=July 2021}} [[Daily Herald (Arlington Heights)|''Daily Herald'' (Arlington Heights)]].</ref><ref>Pfister, Darlene (5 September 1997). [https://web.archive.org/web/20140921210113/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-62615540.html "Artist Wyland creates whale of a mural"]. ''[[Star-Tribune]]''.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Wyland Foundation|url=https://wylandfoundation.org/shop/|access-date=2021-07-04|website=Wyland Foundation|language=en-US}}</ref> His artwork has been featured on California and Florida [[Vehicle registration plates of the United States#Vanity and specialty plates|specialty license plate]]s as well as on a series of four [[United Nations]] stamps issued in 2010 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the [[Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission]].<ref>Skirble, Rosanne (6 June 2010). [http://www.voanews.com/content/marine-artist-receives-stamp-of-approval-95764244/162920.html "Marine Artist Receives Stamp of Approval"]. [[Voice of America]]. Retrieved 11 September 2014.</ref><ref>Rosenblatt, Susannah (25 June 2008). [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jun-25-me-whale25-story.html "Artist's whale request causes a flap"]. ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. Retrieved 11 September 2014.</ref>
In 1993, he founded the non-profit Wyland Foundation "to help children rediscover the wonder of the ocean through art" (according to Steve Creech, the foundation's Executive Director)<ref>Creech, Steve (June 2013). [https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-332021565 "Wyland: Artist and Conservationist"]. ''Arts and Activities''. Retrieved 11 September 2014 via [[Questia Online Library]] {{subscription}}.</ref> and to finance his ''Whaling Wall'' murals.<ref>Tobias, Lucy (25 October 2000). [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=20001025&id=WWAxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dggEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5355,4667305 "Crowds Gather To Watch Artist At Work In Homosassa"], pp. 1B and 6B. ''[[Ocala Star-Banner]]''.</ref> Wyland's 100th and final ''Whaling Wall'' was painted in [[Beijing]] in 2008.<ref>[[Environment News Service|ENS]] (27 June 2008). [http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/green/Wyland_to_Paint_100th_Whaling_Wall_Mural_in_Beijing_All__National_.html "Wyland to Paint 100th Whaling Wall Mural in Beijing"]. NBC New York. Retrieved 11 September 2014.</ref> His foundation has since expanded its work to include other environmental initiatives such as sponsorship of the National Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation.<ref>[[Tucson, Arizona|City of Tucson]] (2014). [http://water.tucsonaz.gov/water/challenge "National Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation"]. Retrieved 11 September 2014.</ref>


In 2018, Norwegian Cruise Line launched their newest cruise ship, ''Norwegian Bliss''. Wyland designed and painted a massive mural on the hull of the over 1,000-foot-long ship, featuring his trademark images of life-sized whales.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncl.com/press-releases/norwegian-cruise-line-reveals-wylands-visionary-hull-artwork-norwegian-bliss|title=Norwegian Cruise Line Reveals Wyland's Visionary Hull Artwork for Norwegian Bliss|website=www.ncl.com|language=en|access-date=2018-06-25}}</ref>
In 2018, Norwegian Cruise Line launched their newest cruise ship, ''[[Norwegian Bliss]]''. Wyland designed and painted a massive mural on the hull of the over 1,000-foot-long ship, featuring his trademark images of life-sized whales.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Norwegian Cruise Line Reveals Wyland's Visionary Hull Artwork for Norwegian Bliss|url=https://www.ncl.com/press-releases/norwegian-cruise-line-reveals-wylands-visionary-hull-artwork-norwegian-bliss|access-date=2018-06-25|website=www.ncl.com|language=en}}</ref>{{non-primary source needed|date=September 2020}}


Wyland lives in Laguna Beach, Key West and in Hawaii.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Connelly|first1=Laylan|title=Wyland offering art lessons for kids|work=[[The Orange County Register]]|date=January 25, 2015|page= Sports 11}}</ref>
Wyland lives in the Florida Keys, California, and Hawaii.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Connelly|first1=Laylan|date=January 25, 2015|title=Wyland offering art lessons for kids|page=Sports 11|work=[[The Orange County Register]]}}</ref>

== Conservation and outreach ==
After spending the first half of his career focused on drawing attention to marine mammal conservation, Wyland, along with co-author and frequent environmental collaborator Steve Creech expanded the focus of the Wyland Foundation to raise awareness about issues affecting U.S. waterways, including [[urban runoff]], nutrient pollution, and [[marine debris]] issues.<ref>{{Cite web|title=January Marine Committee Meeting: Steve Creech, Executive Director, Wyland Foundation|url=https://www.newportbeach.com/events/january-marine-committee-meeting-steve-creech-executive-director-wyland-foundation/|access-date=2021-07-04|website=Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce|language=en-US}}</ref> Among their work was the creation of a 1,000 square traveling clean water science center, featuring a 40-person onboard interactive movie theater, computer model simulations of region's affected by water pollution, and onboard running rivers.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Interactive Wyland Clean Water Mobile Learning Center at Kissimmee lakefront today|url=https://www.aroundosceola.com/news/interactive-wyland-clean-water-mobile-learning-center-kissimmee-lakefront-today|access-date=2021-07-04|website=Osceola News Gazette|language=en}}</ref> "You can't protect one area of water without thinking about how we protect all of it, because it's all connected," Wyland said. "If you want to think about protecting our ocean, you have to think about what we're doing to our freshwater habitats. The lakes, the rivers, the streams, the ponds, the wetlands. It's all connected."

== Legacy ==
Wyland's pioneering efforts to create monumental artworks dedicated to marine life conservation pre-dated today's world of super graphics. At the height of his popularity, it was estimated that Wyland's artworks in cities around the world were seen by up to 1 billion people a year.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-01|title=The Artist Who Challenges City Mayors to be Water-wise|url=https://real-leaders.com/the-artist-who-challenges-city-mayors-to-be-water-wise/|access-date=2021-07-04|website=Real Leaders|language=en-US}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
Line 20: Line 26:


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.wyland.com Wyland's official website]
* {{Official website|http://www.wyland.com}}
*[http://www.wylandfoundation.org Wyland Foundation official website]
* [http://www.wylandfoundation.org Wyland Foundation]
*[http://www.wylandgalleries.com Wyland Galleries official website]
*[http://en.epochtimes.com/news/7-10-6/60435.html ''Epoch Times'' article about "Every Drop Counts" Tour]


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Wyland, Robert}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wyland}}
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century American painters]]
[[Category:20th-century American painters]]
[[Category:20th-century American male artists]]
[[Category:American male painters]]
[[Category:American male painters]]
[[Category:21st-century American painters]]
[[Category:21st-century American painters]]

Latest revision as of 18:54, 13 October 2024

Wyland in 2019
Wyland painting a mural on a former military barracks now part of the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
Wyland's signature on a mural at the Long Beach Arena

Wyland (born July 9, 1956) is an American artist and conservationist best known for his more than 100 Whaling Walls, large outdoor murals featuring images of life-size whales and other sea life to call attention to the plight of whales throughout the world.

Life and career

[edit]

A native of Madison Heights, Michigan, Wyland began painting as a child and attended Detroit's Center for Creative Studies in the 1970s.[1] His connection with whales began when he was 14 on a visit with his family to Laguna Beach, California where he saw the ocean for the first time and witnessed several gray whales migrating down the California coast towards Mexico.[2] In 1977 he moved to Laguna Beach and in 1981 painted his first The Whaling Wall mural on the large wall of a Laguna Beach hotel parking lot. This original 1981 mural was obliterated in 1996 when it was painted over in a property ownership dispute. Wyland re-created the mural at nearly the same location with painted ceramic tile in 1996, followed by a wall-mounted canvas addition in 2019 when he included the additional title Gray Whale and Calf.[3][4]

In 1993, he founded the non-profit Wyland Foundation "to help children rediscover the wonder of the ocean through art" (according to Steve Creech, the foundation's President) and to finance his Whaling Wall murals.[5][6] Wyland's largest ocean mural sets an international record of over three acres in area, on the exterior of the Long Beach Convention Center.[7][8] Wyland's 100th Whaling Wall was painted in Beijing in 2008.[9] His foundation has since expanded its work to include other environmental initiatives such as sponsorship of the National Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation.[10][11]

By 1997, his commercial work (sold through Wyland Galleries LLC) and licensed merchandise sold at zoos and other outlets had become a multimillion-dollar business supporting both his galleries and his non-profit endeavors for the conservation of coasts and waterways.[12][13][14] His artwork has been featured on California and Florida specialty license plates as well as on a series of four United Nations stamps issued in 2010 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.[15][16]

In 2018, Norwegian Cruise Line launched their newest cruise ship, Norwegian Bliss. Wyland designed and painted a massive mural on the hull of the over 1,000-foot-long ship, featuring his trademark images of life-sized whales.[17][non-primary source needed]

Wyland lives in the Florida Keys, California, and Hawaii.[18]

Conservation and outreach

[edit]

After spending the first half of his career focused on drawing attention to marine mammal conservation, Wyland, along with co-author and frequent environmental collaborator Steve Creech expanded the focus of the Wyland Foundation to raise awareness about issues affecting U.S. waterways, including urban runoff, nutrient pollution, and marine debris issues.[19] Among their work was the creation of a 1,000 square traveling clean water science center, featuring a 40-person onboard interactive movie theater, computer model simulations of region's affected by water pollution, and onboard running rivers.[20] "You can't protect one area of water without thinking about how we protect all of it, because it's all connected," Wyland said. "If you want to think about protecting our ocean, you have to think about what we're doing to our freshwater habitats. The lakes, the rivers, the streams, the ponds, the wetlands. It's all connected."

Legacy

[edit]

Wyland's pioneering efforts to create monumental artworks dedicated to marine life conservation pre-dated today's world of super graphics. At the height of his popularity, it was estimated that Wyland's artworks in cities around the world were seen by up to 1 billion people a year.[21]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Arrellano, Christopher (24 April 1993). "Artist In Town To Check Out His 'canvas'", pp. A1, A8. The Day. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  2. ^ Pinho, Faith E. (July 20, 2019). "Wyland returns his 'whaling wall' to its original spot in Laguna Beach". Los Angeles Times | Daily Pilot. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  3. ^ Benningfield, Damond. "Whaling Walls". Science and the Sea. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Wyland Whaling Walls". Wyland Foundation. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  5. ^ Creech, Steve (June 2013). "Wyland: Artist and Conservationist"[dead link]. Arts and Activities.
  6. ^ Tobias, Lucy (25 October 2000). "Crowds Gather To Watch Artist At Work In Homosassa", pp. 1B and 6B. Ocala Star-Banner.
  7. ^ Boxall, Bettina (December 12, 1991). "Project: Art: City officials and renowned artist paint a deal to create the world's largest mural". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  8. ^ Connelly, Laylan (November 8, 2018). "Where's Wyland? Iconic, massive, marine." Orange County Register. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  9. ^ ENS (27 June 2008). "Wyland to Paint 100th Whaling Wall Mural in Beijing". NBC New York. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  10. ^ City of Tucson (2014). "National Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation". Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  11. ^ "Sacramento aiming to win national water conservation challenge". KCRA. 2021-04-22. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
  12. ^ Reese, Joel (30 September 1997). "Worshiping at the Whaling Wall His New Mural in Downtown Chicago Thrills His Fans, but Critics Say Wyland Is a Better Self-Promoter Than an Artist"[dead link] Daily Herald (Arlington Heights).
  13. ^ Pfister, Darlene (5 September 1997). "Artist Wyland creates whale of a mural". Star-Tribune.
  14. ^ "Wyland Foundation". Wyland Foundation. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
  15. ^ Skirble, Rosanne (6 June 2010). "Marine Artist Receives Stamp of Approval". Voice of America. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  16. ^ Rosenblatt, Susannah (25 June 2008). "Artist's whale request causes a flap". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  17. ^ "Norwegian Cruise Line Reveals Wyland's Visionary Hull Artwork for Norwegian Bliss". www.ncl.com. Retrieved 2018-06-25.
  18. ^ Connelly, Laylan (January 25, 2015). "Wyland offering art lessons for kids". The Orange County Register. p. Sports 11.
  19. ^ "January Marine Committee Meeting: Steve Creech, Executive Director, Wyland Foundation". Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
  20. ^ "Interactive Wyland Clean Water Mobile Learning Center at Kissimmee lakefront today". Osceola News Gazette. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
  21. ^ "The Artist Who Challenges City Mayors to be Water-wise". Real Leaders. 2021-04-01. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
[edit]
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