Meet Wyland!
May 10 at Wyland Galleries at Disney's Polynesian Hotel, and Wyland Galleries on
Disney's Boardwalk on May 11 from 7-10 pm. Come meet the artist!
2013
Highlights 35 Years of Inspirational Art, Ocean Education and Community
Awareness by Marine Life Artist Wyland and Wyland Galleries
National
Mayor’s Water Challenge, School Art Contest, Award-Winning Conservation
Documentary, Twentieth Anniversary of Wyland Foundation
and Thirty-
Five Gallery Shows Featured
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. — His art is
big: on the sides of skyscrapers, roofs of sports arenas, school walls, the U.S.
National Mall in Washington, D.C., and just about everywhere in between. But for
environmental artist Wyland, the last 35 years have been about making a
statement about how one person can change the world. He has helped shaped the
way millions see, understand, and appreciate the oceans and planet.
"This is a distinguished
accomplishment in the art world — and one we look forward to sharing with great
pride," Wyland said as he begins a year of special events, gallery shows and
celebrations marking this milestone. "That's because our mission of showcasing
the world's finest marine life art, introducing people to the power of nature,
and giving back to communities everywhere has redefined what an artist and an
art gallery can mean to the world.”
In 1978, Wyland started a small
gallery in the renowned art community of Laguna Beach, California. As the
response to his art and mission grew, Wyland Galleries expanded across the
United States, from Hawaii to Florida. Today, these galleries have become
destinations on the itineraries of many travelers. Collectors and fans around
the world have Wyland’s inspirational art.
Wyland Foundation
An important aspect of Wyland's work
has been his non-profit Wyland Foundation. 2013 will mark the 20th anniversary
of the foundation, which uses art and science education to inspire millions of
young people to become stewards for the environment. As part of his commitment,
in the past 20 years, Wyland has held art clinics for more than one million kids
in all 50 states and many countries around the world.
The Wyland Foundation has helped
children and families around the nation to rediscover the importance of healthy
oceans and waterways through public art programs, classroom science education,
and live events. The foundation gives children the tools they need to become
more creative, positive, and solution-oriented. The foundation is a 501(c)(3)
non-profit organization and has worked directly with more than one million
children since its inception in 1993.
For more info on the foundation and
for a video message from Wyland see: www.wylandfoundation.org.
National Mayors Challenge for
Water Conservation
In 2013, Wyland will lead his second
annual “National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation” a friendly,
community-based competition where cities across the nation are encouraged to be
“water wise.” With the Wyland Water Mobile Learning Experience, an 18 wheel,
mobile interactive, “hands-on” educational display and with the support of
Toyota, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Forest Service,
National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, National League of Cities, Rain
Bird Corporation, CH2M Hill, and Lowe’s Home Improvement Stores, mayors and
civic leaders nationwide will challenge their residents to conserve water,
energy and other natural resources on behalf of their city through a series of
informative events and online pledges. Last year, the challenge awarded more
than $50,000 in prizes, including a Toyota Prius, Lowe’s gift cards, custom lawn
and garden irrigation and water-saving fixtures, to 1,200 residents in U.S.
cities. Info at www.mywaterpledge.com.
Blues Planet: Sounds:
Award-Winning Documentary on Tour
In 2012, Wyland put together the
award-winning documentary called, “Blues Planet: Sounds,” a new documentary
narrated by famed oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle. This powerful and moving
visual masterpiece sheds light on the environmental challenges of our day and
the many people who through art, music, and science are creating an
environmental renaissance. Original music from the Wyland Blues Planet Project
by Taj Mahal, Rod Piazza, Steve Turre, Nick-I, and 40 blues icons, recorded in
New Orleans on the anniversary of the Gulf Oil Disaster. This film will be shown
at various venues across the county in conjunction with Wyland’s gallery shows
and will be used for fund raising and community awareness for local water and
ocean charities. See the movie trailer here: www.wyland.com/wylandrecords.
MORE ON WYLAND: Wyland is a
celebrated painter, sculptor, muralist, writer, film maker, and music producer,
his work and lifetime of achievements have been recognized by the world's most
prestigious organizations, including the United Nations, the Guinness Book of
World Records, the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame, and the famous
Explorer's Club, who’s members were the first to the North Pole, the South Pole,
the summit of Mount Everest, first to the deepest point in the ocean and first
to the surface of the moon.
As an official artist for the United
States Olympic Team, he created large-scale art events for the Vancouver and
Beijing Olympics, including the completion of his 100th and final Whaling Wall
mural, "Hands Across the Ocean," a nearly mile-long series of giant canvasses
painted with kids from over 100 Olympic countries for the Olympic Cultural
Festival in Beijing. The artist also painted on the lawn of the White House with
14,000 kids to celebrate the health of the oceans.
For more information please visit: www.Wyland.com.
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Kevin Yee is the author of numerous independent Disney books, including the popular Walt Disney World Earbook series and Walt Disney World Hidden History.
