Robert Wyland (born. 1956 in Detroit, Michigan), known simply as Wyland, is an artist best known for painting large, outdoor murals of whales and other ocean life. A mural is a Painting on a wall ceiling or other large permanent surface Whales are marine mammals which are neither Dolphins (ie members of the families Delphinidae or Platanistoidae) nor Porpoises Orcas
He grew up in Madison Heights, Michigan and attended Lamphere High School. Madison Heights is a city in Oakland County of the US state of Michigan. His 25th "whaling wall" is in the pool area of the high school. His parents Darlene Wyland and Bob Wyland divorced when he was four. He has brothers Steve, Bill, and Tom.
Wyland divides his time between Oahu, Hawaii; Laguna Beach, California; and Florida. Oahu (usually Oahu outside Hawaiian and Hawaiian English) known as ''"The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the The State of Hawaii ( or həˈwaɪʔiː Hawaiian: Mokuāina o Hawaii) is a state in the United States located on an Archipelago in the Laguna Beach is a seaside resort and artist community located in southern Orange County California, approximately southeast of the county seat of Santa Ana. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the He has a goal of painting 100 Whaling Walls by 2011. 2011 ( MMXI) will be a Common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar.
In June 2006, Wyland painted a mural on a wall at the Del Mar Fairgrounds for the annual "Del Mar Fair" while locals watched him work.
Since 2003, the Wyland Foundation has embarked on a five-year touring schedule to promote art, science, and conservation. The program has reached children along the East Coast, West Coast, and the Mississippi River regions. To date, the Wyland Foundation has conducted tour events in more than 35 states, Mexico, and Canada, reaching more than 50 million people. In 2007, the artist, along with science educators and volunteers, conducted a national tour for clean water, themed, "From Pike's Peak to the Chesapeake Bay — Every Drop Counts," to raise awareness through art and science about protecting watersheds nationwide. Activities include water quality testing at rivers, bays and lakes, a pledge drive to reduce water waste, mural painting with children, life-size mazes about water conservation, and a 1,000 square foot clean water learning center on wheels, featuring exhibits about the future of river management, lake regions, estuaries, and wetlands.
Background
As a child he started to have interest in painting and being an artist at the age of 3. One of the people that influenced Wyland was Captain Jacques Cousteau. Jacques-Yves Cousteau ( 11 June 1910 – 25 June 1997) was a French naval officer explorer, Ecologist, Wyland as a child also wanted to be a scientist and study marine life just like Captain Cousteau, which he is also today. Captain Cousteau is still the main influence in Wyland’s belief in caring for the environment. Wyland first encountered the adoration of whales when he saw a TV show hosted by Captain Cousteau about whales. After watching the show he said he wanted to know how to dive and visit the whales in their environment. Wyland became known as an artist when he began painting large whale murals. In college Wyland majored in painting and sculpting. His teacher in college recommended that Wyland should move on and travel to California where he could develop his art. Wyland currently lives in Hawaii, which is where he spends much of his time. In Hawaii, he once swam with whales that were 40 ton giants.
Wyland is the current World Record holder as recognized by The Guinness Book of World Records for having painted the largest mural in the world. Whaling Wall #33, "Planet Ocean", covers the entire surface of the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, CA. At 1280 feet long x 105 feet high, the 116,000 square foot mural depicts migratory gray whales and other aquatic life that can be found in the waters off Long Beach.
See also
External links
- Wyland's official website
- Wyland Foundation official website
- Wyland Ocean Challenge
- Birch Aquarium at Scripps
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography
- Epoch Times article about "Every Drop Counts" Tour
- Wyland asked to pay for giving art work for free.
- (http://www.wylandsayville.com Newest Wyland Gallery opens in Sayville, NY)
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic