What Were You Doing Last Weekend While Wyland Painted a Whaling Wall in New London?

On March 20 I shared a blog post titled "Wyland, the Marine Michaelangelo, Returns to New London to Re-Paint the Whaling Wall." When I was first introduced to Wyland's art by photographer Gary Firstenberg, I was duly impressed by the scale and quantity of his murals. As I prepared to interview Wyland I was especially impressed by how extensive his work outside of painting murals turned out to be. But when I saw what a professional marine muralist can accomplish in a single weekend... Well, you can see it here in a three minute time-lapse photo-story.

I have often told young writers, artists and dreamers that life is longer than you realize and that if you dedicate yourself to that which you are passionate about and feel called to do, you will accomplish far more than you ever dreamed possible. Wyland is one of many such examples. 

"Let's get this show on the road."

There's nothing quite like that feeling of accomplishment.

(View from the roof across the street.)

Hooray for New London. 

Thank you, Wyland.

Thank you Gary.

Wyland, the Marine Michaelangelo, Returns to New London to Re-Paint the Whaling Wall

Ribbon cutting, Whaling Wall in Dallas. Next to Wyland
on the scaffold Herschel Walker did the honors.

For several decades beginning in the early 19th century, New London, Connecticut was one of the three busiest whaling ports in the world, along with Nantucket and New Bedford, Mass. The wealth that whaling brought into the city furnished the capital to fund much of the city's present architecture. Times change, but the city maintains its moniker as "The Whaling City."

30 years ago New London hired world famous muralist Wyland to create a massive whale mural near the ferry. Wyland is an important whale muralist because of his significant contributions to marine conservation awareness and education through his art. He is known for his large-scale, lifelike depictions of whales and other marine life on the sides of buildings and other public spaces and has painted whale murals all around the world. 

Because of graffiti and deterioration, he was asked to return and restore the New London mural to its original beauty.

Wyland withTaj Mahal at Jazzfest. Taj is a member
of Wyland's Blues Planet band.

Wyland's murals and his work as a conservationist draw attention to the beauty and importance of the oceans and the need for their protection. His art has inspired people to care more about the environment and take action to protect marine life and their habitats. He has also created educational programs and events that promote marine conservation and environmental awareness.

Having been introduced to his work via photographer Gary Firstenberg, I've since followed his activities and shared some of his story. Today I caught up with Wyland to discuss his current activities.

When I asked which came first, the interest in art or the whales, Wyland replied, "I have been an artist since I was four. I was inspired by the ocean and Jacques Cousteau ... He was such a hero for me, a big inspiration."  

Wyland's interest in the sea led him to take up scuba diving. "I wanted to be Jacques Cousteau," he said, but as an artist he created his own path. During the pandemic he was honored for his marine work became the 10th person in the world to receive the Legend of the Sea Award, joining other heroes of his including Cousteau and Lloyd Bridges. Wyland is also the youngest member of the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame.

Franco Harris with the artist Wyland.

Wyland painted his first mural in Laguna Beach in 1981. "I had only planned to do one. When a writer asked 'How many are you going to paint?' I said I was going to paint 100." And he kept his word, though actually he's painted 101...whale and marine life murals, "the last one with Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam." 

When asked if he has a favorite, Wyland said, "Every single wall had a story. It wasn't about the artist but how people came together to produce some of the largest artworks in history. It's very fulfilling turning a blank wall into public art." 

He pointed out how the Wynwood Walls in Miami transformed ugly warehouse buildings into an inspirational public art district.

"One of my first murals was on the Golden Bear a nightclub. I was hitting the walls before they actually called it street art. Street art has had a big impact on me. Art is very powerful.... Art and music, the most powerful things on earth."

In addition to painting and scuba diving, Wyland is also quite the entrepreneur. At one point he had 57 galleries, his first opening in 1978. That's 45 years in the business. More important for Wyland is the foundation he's founded and funded. The Wyland Foundation is dedicated to promoting, protecting and preserving the world's oceans, waterways and marine life. The foundation encourages environmental awareness through education programs, public arts projects and community events.

Wyland's work has earned him numerous awards and honors, including being designated a United Nations Environment Programme Goodwill Ambassador and receiving the Rolex Award for Enterprise. His art has also been featured in numerous publications and media outlets, including National Geographic and The New York Times.

The New London Mural is located near the ferry and the Thames Oyster House. It was originally painted by Wyland in 1993, the 41st of his 101 whale murals. By 2006, it had deteriorated quite a bit (fading and peeling and some graffiti. According to a UK Daily News story, a New London Restoration Committee, with the goal of restoring the mural to its original beauty. The first muralist who was brought in to restore and touch up the mural focused on keeping the original beauty intact. When he turned 72 and could no longer climb four levels of scaffolding another artist was brought in. The colors used for the whales did not go well with the original. Wyland is coming back to do a truer restoration.

For more on Wyland and his foundation, visit
www.wyland.com/

Photography by Gary Firstenberg

The moniker Marine Michaelangelo was coined by USA Today

Related Links

Murals in the St. Petersburg Warehouse District
Scott Murphy's Delightful Duluth Story Mural
Community Mural Underway in Lincoln Park District

Largest mural East of the Mississippi.
Largest American flag in the world.

Sittin' on the dock on the bay... waiting for his next adventure.

Almost Wordless Wednesday: Spotlight on Wyland, the Marine Michaelangelo

Photos by Gary Firstenberg

There's something to be said for outdoor art. Muralists add life to our cities as they reflect aspects of our world and stoke our imaginations. When I was introduced to the work of Wyland my first impression was that this man has certainly lived a charmed life. He's made a living pursuing his passions and it has taken him all over the world. 

Painter, sculptor write, photographer, philanthropist, film-maker and advocate for conservation, his murals have been enjoyed by millions. One of his massive murals--covering a whopping three acres--landed him in the Guinness Book of World Records. His Wyland Foundation is committed to raising awareness about the importance of clean water and a healthy planet.

When you scroll through his website (wyland.com) you will be amazed at how prolific this guy has been. If I can get our schedules to mesh we'll be talking soon. 

Photography by Gary Firstenberg

The moniker Marine Michaelangelo was coined by USA Today

Related Links

Murals in the St. Petersburg Warehouse District
Scott Murphy's Delightful Duluth Story Mural
Community Mural Underway in Lincoln Park District

Community Mural Underway in the Lincoln Park District

North Shore Scenic Highway 61 (Gary Firstenberg photo)

A number of years ago I took a tour of St. Petersburg with an eye to taking in all the murals that decorate the walls of the city's Warehouse District. It was inspiring, and even though I felt it a little unfair that their muralists can paint year-'round, I felt proud of how much public art there is here in the Twin Ports, with more being added annually.

This month I saw a mural underway in Two Harbors that passersby will take delight in soon. Did you know that 4 million cars a year pass through Two Harbors heading up the North Shore to our various park or further on to Thunder Bay and back? I also learned there's going to be a new mural added to the Historic Duluth Armory sometime soon.

My aim here is to showcase the new mural being painted on a wall of the community resource center in the West End. The project design and execution is being spearheaded by lead artists Moira Villiard of the Fond du Lac tribe and Red Cliff artist Michelle DeFoe. Besides adding still more brilliance to the ever evolving Lincoln Park District, the mural itself is has a great story to go with it.

In addition to utilizing Anishinaabe symbolism to provide insight into some of the city's Indigenous history, a portion of the mural will incorporate designs submitted online to Villiard by youth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lincoln Park Resource Center, 2024 West 3rd Street

According to Villiard and DeFoe the dragonflies were largely designed by youth and are a symbol of resilience and transformation, and serve as a relevant reminder of our need today to grow and transform our lives in ways that allow us to live fully. Through cultural imagery, including a hand holding asemaa and references to wild rice, the mural also serves as a reminder that even in uncertain times, we shouldn't forget the stories of the land we reside on and the people who were the first stewards of Turtle Island.

Several youth groups have also participated in the early painting stages of the mural, including a youth group from the Steve O’Neil apartment building. Social distancing has been important throughout.

Dragonflies (detail)

This project was funded in part through an Art Project grant by the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council and through a grant program awarded by the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation in partnership with the McKnight Foundation to the American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO) arts program (the “Art in the Present Moment” initiative).

Related Links
St. Petersburg's Warehouse Arts District: Inspiration and Lessons for the Twin Ports

Sprucing Up the Neighborhood with Tom Napoli

While driving past Ganucci's recently I noticed Tom Napoli as at it again, either adding to the murals on the outside walls or brightening. Not only has restaurant itself been a great addition to the neighborhood--primo Italian fare--but the murals which have been spreading across its exterior have added zest, like good Italian seasoning.

I first met Napoli while he was painting the long horizontal mural on the West side of the Earth Rider brewery last year.

It was also Tom Napoli who created the delightful "bookshelf" store front for Bob & Angel Dobrow's Zenith Bookstore just down the block, across from the new West Theater. While there I learned that Napoli was the artist who brought to life the story of the Tortoise and the Hare on the East side of Tortoise and Hare Footwear (40th Avenue West & Grand) which you can see on Tom's website here.

What follows are a handful of images to show you the versatility and flavor of this artist's work.

Detail, far right end of Tortoise and Hare Footware.

As I've said before, it is wonderful to see all the public art. 

Thank you, Tom, for your contributions to our community. 

Local Art Seen: Murals, DAI and Earth Rider Fest + Bonus Tracks

Driving through the North End of Superior you will have no doubt noticed a mural that has been in process there for quite some time on the Earth Rider brewery building. Artist Tom Napoli has been working on an image perfectly suited to the narrow, horizontal space. Yesterday I grabbed a few pics of the work in progress. I find it quite striking.

When I turned and looked West I could see that the big tent was up for Earth Rider's First Anniversary Beer Fest. They've brewed up some special Bier for the occasion and lined up a long list of favorite local bands. Tonight's show will kick of with The Polkarobics at 5, Woodblind at 6, Ingeborg von Agassiz at  7, RADDA RADDA at 8, closing out with Rich Mattson and the Northstars at 9:30.

A long narrow ore boat for a long narrow wall.

I'd made an attempt to visit the UWS Faculty Show mid-afternoon because of my inability to attend the opening, but it wasn't meant to be. The doors were locked. Opening at 5-7 no doubt went off without a hitch. I will catch the show and share what I find.

At the DAI I poked in during the lunch hour to catch the three shows there. Aaron Squadroni's Mesabi Land Portraits is displayed in the John Steffl balcony gallery, Nik Nerburn is a Camera in the Corridor Gallery and Amanda Breitbach's Land/People in the George Morrison Gallery. The open reception last night did not include two of the artists who were unavailable.

If you have been paying attention, we have quite a number of new murals that have made an appearance here the past few years. It's actually impressive, considering how short our "growing season" is.

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Flashback Friday

BONUS TRACKS

Life is a Gift (Feb 2009)

A Postmodern Perspective on Moby Dick (Sept 2010)

A Dozen Things Seen During My Recent Trip Up the East Coast from Tampa to Allentown

I saw these birds during a morning run in Riverside, East of Tampa Bay.

On my first day I woke in the night and sketched this vision from my head.

Along the way I found Waldo.

And wouldn't you know it, I also found myself. 

This is George Melvin.

One of many wonderful murals that I saw in various places.

So many good Mexican restaurants, too... Yummm.

And yes, my grandson Wally is a gem.

There was a birthday celebration with the extended family.

Wally enjoyed his first Easter...

...while his cousins had to work to find Easter eggs outside.

For dessert I enjoyed a visit with an old art instructor I had in college.
His dog leapt out the window to greet me.*

It was a very special time with family, friends and memories.

*A miniature sculpture by Frank Holmes.

A Flurry of New Twin Ports Murals: Signs of the Times?

What an interesting year for public art here in the Twin Ports. In April I shared my enthusiasm for the murals and public art that I saw in St. Petersburg, commenting how I would like to see more here. Clearly I was not alone in this, for it seems that mural have been springing up right and left on both sides of the bridge. Three weeks ago a new mural was "unveiled" in the new Craft District and earlier this summer a new mural appeared high up on the home of the Red Mug at Hammond and Broadway in Superior.

This week I was driving East on Second Street when I noticed a new mural taking shape atop the former YWCA that now houses AICHO and the Dr. Robert Powless Cultural Center. The mural was in its final stages when I ascended to the rooftop Wednesday during my lunch hour to get an up close view of the three artists in action, Votan Ik, Derek Brown and Leah Lewis. The first half of this week has been perfect for outdoor painting.

Leah Lewis of Albuquerque is of Hopi, Zuni and Pueblo ancestry.

Derek Brown is Dine from Ganado, Arizona.

There's been a lot happening here at the American Indian Community Housing Association. The facilities are aesthetically rich and continuously moreso. They have recently opened an Indigenous First gift shop where people can come buy art and a variety of goods made by local artists, among them Jonathan Thunder and Leah Yellowbird. To be quite frank, and I mean this quite seriously, the value of Leah Yellowbird's original art ought to be comparable to anything created by any artist over the past fifty years. Her work must be seen to be fully appreciated.

Votan Ik of Los Angeles assembled the team.

Now back to our theme. I asked Votan, an L.A. artist of Mayan descent, how he came to be a painter of murals. "I've been doing art all my life," he replied, "but what gave way to murals was growing up as a graffiti artist."

Upon learning he had Mayan roots, I wondered if there were connections between graffiti art and the devotion to public art that I saw during my year in Mexico.

"Public art is crucial because it yields to dialogue, especially on issues that are dismissed by mainstream media," Votan asserted.

When I asked how he ended up in Duluth, and why this image was selected, he stated, "This mural was put together by Honor the Earth and AICHO. I've worked with Honor for the last 5 or so years and we've been finding creative ways to address issues revolving around oil."

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Thunder Notes

Three pieces by Jonathan Thunder in the AICHO Indigenous Gift Shop

This summer Jonathan Thunder's art has been receiving some of the attention it deserves as part of a solo exhibition in the Morrison Gallery at the Duluth Art Institute. On Tuesday, August 15 at 5:30 p.m. the artist will be giving a talk along with a book signing, hosted by Kathy McTavish at Duluth Art Institute Galleries, Duluth Depot, 506 W Michigan Street. Thunder, who was born on the Red Lake Reservation and raised in Minneapolis, studied at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico and the Art Institute International Minnesota. His solo exhibit features Ojibwe deities placed in a contemporary context. A catalog with color images includes an intro by Anne Dugan and an essay by Mason Riddle, a Saint Paul-based arts writer.

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It's Friday. Hope you have special plans this weekend. Don't forget Shawna Gilmore's Woodlandia opens tomorrow at the Lakeside Gallery, 1-3 p.m.

Meantime, art goes on all around you. Engage it.