4 November 2008

A mural seven blocks long is to paintings what the National Mall is to backyards. So there was a certain symmetry to the recent Mall display of "Hands Across the Ocean," the 100th and final installment in the Whaling Wall international series of monumental works by Wyland, the United States Sports Academy's Environmental Artist of the Year 2008.

Short weeks after the display, Wyland is coming to Mobile's Five Rivers Delta Resource Center. Starting 3 December he offers area children his Wyland Mobile Learning Center, an educational experience on wheels communicating the need to preserve unspoiled waters in our environment. Part of Wyland's visit is a family fun day on Sunday 7 December from 1-4 p.m. at Five Rivers.

The 1,00-square-foot traveling exhibit, like Wyland's mural series, promotes awareness of the vital roles of oceans, lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands. The Wyland Mobile Learning Center has engaged thousands of students with a "4D" theater, hands-on life science activities, computer modeling and art experiences.

Last spring Wyland was invited to paint with children at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. The opening of a new wing of the Smithsonian Institution occasioned his mural's October installation on the Mall.

"It is a profound honor to celebrate the conclusion of the Whaling Wall odyssey in conjunction with the launch of the Smithsonian natural history museum's new Sant Ocean Hall," Wyland said. "The spirit of discovery about the ocean's wonders is what people will experience."

Wyland, who often is presented as America's premier marine-life artist, is from Laguna Beach, Calif., and began the Whaling Wall series of visual celebrations of marine life over 25 years ago. He created the culminating work "Hands Across the Ocean" with children from 115 countries who joined him in Beijing, China, during the 2008 Summer Olympics.

"It's so important for me to share my art and knowledge and experience with young people, because they face some very important global issues," Wyland said. "But these kids get it. They get the environmental movement and they understand that it's important to protect our water, our air, our land. They understand that they can make a difference."