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CITY OF NORTH LAUDERDALE WELCOMES 2008 OLYMPICS ARTIST WYLAND TO PAINT 99^TH WHALING WALL MURAL

Environmental art project in support of International Year of the Reef, Green Olympics

NORTH LAUDERDALE, Fla. (May 28, 2008) — The City of North Lauderdale will welcome acclaimed marine life artist and conservation advocate Wyland as he creates his 99^th mural as part of his internationally renowned Whaling Wall art project. The artist will paint his last wall in the United States along McNab Rd. just west of Rock Island Rd., June 6-14, before making his way to Beijing to paint the final wall at the 2008 Summer Olympics. 

The City of North Lauderdale embarked on a journey to bring Wyland to the area as part of its commitment to ‘Building a Future’ for residents by establishing a “greener” community.  The completion of this 10’ x 1,000’ wall will align with the City’s environmental initiatives, which include water conservation, recycling and environmental stewardship.

“This project fits into the City’s plan of beautification and ‘Building a Future’ for our residents.  This wall is something we can all be proud to say is located in North Lauderdale,” Mayor Jack Brady said.  “With all of the challenges with our water shortages, wildfires in the Everglades and environmental issues, this International Year of the Reef Wall will be a beautiful reminder of our precious resources.”

Wyland’s mural will be part of the City of North Lauderdale’s “Wyland Walk,” a fully remodeled McNab/Cypress Creek corridor spanning the length of the now world-renown mural, featuring park benches, landscaping upgrades and a spiraling walkway marveled with sea-toned colors of recycled glass.  The new area will anchor the City’s “Arts in Public Places” program, which strives to implement thought-provoking, original art to help inspire residents.  The program, coupled with ongoing redevelopment initiatives, help to foster distinctive, attractive communities with a sense of place.

“The marine theme is especially appropriate for North Lauderdale,” Commissioner David Hilton said.  “Our lakes, the Florida Keys, The Everglades and the Atlantic Ocean all play an enormous role in the lives of North Lauderdale residents.”

This effort also has an educational component, “Wyld for Wyland,” which gives local youth the opportunity to paint a 4’ x 4’ marine life mural with the help of Wyland.  The City of North Lauderdale has invited summer camp programs throughout Broward County to participate in this extraordinary opportunity and learning experience.  Upon completion, Wyland will present the artwork to the City and it will be on display at various schools throughout the City, and at the North Lauderdale Teen Center.  In addition, “Wyld for Wyland” gives kids the opportunity to take Wyland’s Clean Water Challenge, featuring a 53-foot mobile learning center that teaches youth about water quality, and coral reefs.

Wyland’s goal over the last 25 years has been to raise awareness about marine life conservation and global water issues through his Whaling Walls, a series of 100 murals in more than 70 cities throughout the world.  Although Wyland had not planned additional murals in the United States, he selected the City of North Lauderdale as home of his 99^th mural after nurturing a partnership with City Manager Richard Sala.

“After meeting Richard in 2000, I quickly realized that we share a passion for the arts, environment and the overall development and well-being of a community,” Wyland said.  “It was this connection that sparked my interest in creating a mural in a City that focuses on ‘Building a Future’ for its residents, and is frequently undergoing improvement projects that pertain to redevelopment for the City.”

In celebration of Wyland’s arrival in the City of North Lauderdale, the commission has proclaimed June 6-14, Wyland Environmental Week.  Throughout this time, residents, businesses and the millions of commuters that bypass the McNab/Cypress Creek corridor will observe the creation of a historic masterpiece by 2008 U.S. Olympic team artist Wyland, hailed the International Year of the Reef Wall.  In addition, Wyland’s last hurrah in the United States has drawn such attention that internationally-renown artists Guy Harvey and Romero Britto will join him in completing this life-sized work of art.

“This project serves as a catalyst for local community pride and a building stone for redevelopment,” City Manager Richard Sala said.  “This is an enormous step not only for the City of North Lauderdale, but also for the national and international notoriety this project brings to Broward County.”

The Wyland mural is project that could not have been made possible without the help of sponsors.  Special thanks to Benjamin Moore, Enterprise Car Rental, FP&L and LaQuinta, to name a few, for sponsoring this project.  For more information on how you can become involved with the Wyland mural project, contact Parks and Recreation Director Mike Sargis at (954) 724-7060.

“This has been a fantastic journey,” Wyland said. “When I started this project more than two decades ago, I never would have dreamed the project would be where it is today.”

The artist, who donates the paintings as gifts to each community, has completed murals in Sao Paolo, Brazil; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; American Samoa; Del Mar, California and Oahu, Hawaii to name a few.  His 98^th mural was completed in Santos, Brazil in May.  Wyland will now make his way to the City of North Lauderdale for the 99^th and final mural in the United States.  The completion of the 100^th mural in July will mark the culmination of the largest on-going arts in public places project by a single individual.

The artist’s work has garnered him a place in the Guinness Book for World Records, his own show on Discovery Channel’s “Animal Planet Network,” and a place on the front lines for preserving marine life throughout the world. He is the author of more than 18 books, including “Hold Your Water: 68 Things You Need to Know to Keep Our Planet Blue,” and his non-profit Wyland Foundation is actively involved in clean water education. He has been recognized by the United Nations for his conservation efforts, and recently finished the fourth year of a five-year campaign promoting clean water issues throughout the United States.

While creating his mural here, Wyland’s art gallery will also be on-site for visitors to view and purchase smaller sculptures and pieces of artwork.  Visitors will learn about Wyland’s environmental initiatives and get a more in-depth feel for the artist.

An opening ceremony will kick-off Wyland’s work at 12 noon on June 6, followed by a dedication ceremony upon completion of the mural at 12 noon on June 14.

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