SAVING THE SEA
THROUGH HIS FOUNDATION , AWARENESS AND GIVING BACK , WYLAND HELPS INSPIRE OTHERS TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT WATERWAYS AROUND THE WORLD .
Clockwise from left : Wyland at a foundation gala ; the Laguna Beach Whaling Wall ; a painting Wyland created to benefit Maui after the wildfire
A SOLID FOUNDATION Established in 1993 , the Wyland Foundation is devoted to enhancing ocean health , protecting marine life and educating the community , but has recently shifted its perspective , reasoning that , to make a difference downstream , the root causes upstream need to be addressed . The Wyland Foundation is focused on education , but also encourages home-based volunteer actions to stop problems at the source . Wyland says an overwhelming response to this year ’ s National Mayor ’ s Challenge for Water Conservation included more than 400,000 action commitments in over 2,000 cities . Additionally , the Wyland Clean Water Mobile Learning Center — a museum on wheels — has inspired more than 20,000 students this year . The foundation ’ s annual gala , which serves as the primary means of underwriting its programs , was held Nov . 12 with a behind-the-scenes look at Wyland ’ s creativity during a live painting demo .
WHALING WALLS Since painting his first Whaling Wall here in Laguna in 1981 , Wyland has painted more than 100 other murals across the globe to promote the beauty and conservation of the ocean — and all for free . Like his original mural , which spans the wall of Wyland Galleries along Pacific Coast Highway , the paintings feature life-size images of blue and gray whales , humpbacks , orcas , dolphins and other sea creatures . Although his initial project was to complete 100 walls — a feat which he finished in China in 2008 — he has since gone on to create others in Seattle and Washington , D . C .; he also repainted his original wall in Laguna Beach in 2019 . But his final iteration was completed in Cuba in November . “ I think Cuba is a fitting one to end on ,” Wyland notes . “ Our oceans are shared resources , with marine life and currents that move beyond national boundaries . It emphasizes that marine conservation transcends borders .”
LOVE FOR MAUI Although his connection to Laguna Beach runs deep , Wyland also has a special relationship with the island of Maui . Wyland splits his time between California , Florida and Hawaii , with Maui serving as a place where the artist has gotten to know the locals and where he can go out on the water to observe whale populations in their natural habitat — which is crucial for his marine-centric artwork . But the August wildfire that destroyed Lahaina also claimed one of his galleries , which opened on Maui nearly four decades ago . “ After the tragic fire in Lahaina , … the Wyland Foundation immediately launched a fundraising campaign to support the Maui United Way , and I personally donated and raised additional support through the sales of art ,” he says . “… The two art pieces I did following the disaster will continue to generate support .” Wyland ’ s efforts have already helped garner $ 70,000 for those helping the local community on the island . g
LAGUNA BEACH MAGAZINE 29