Wyland Brings Whale-of-a-Challenge to Birch Aquarium at Scripps

Jessica Crawford | Oct. 8, 2007

Perhaps the best way to teach others about conservation is to show them what needs to be saved.

This is at the heart of renowned marine life artist Wyland’s lifelong quest to promote, protect and preserve the oceans and related marine ecosystems. Through his non-profit foundation, Wyland travels the world using his art to educate and inspire.

Scripps Oceanography Director Tony Haymet (left) and Birch Aquarium Executive Director Nigella Hillgarth show off their painter’s thumbs during a Sept. 29 visit by marine life artist Wyland (center).

Wyland, known only by his surname, brought his paintbrushes to UC San Diego’s Birch Aquarium at Scripps on Sept. 29 to kick off his 2007 campaign for clean water and healthy oceans, the fourth annual tour in a five-year national program. 

“Art is a powerful way to introduce kids to many of today’s environmental issues,” said Wyland, known locally for his towering marine-themed painting on the downtown San Diego National Bank Building and his mural at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. “They will become the ambassadors of the next generation.”

More than 200 children soaked up the message at Birch Aquarium, adding their artistic touch to a 20-foot-long mural of the underwater world pictured at sunset.

Wyland set the scene with the swoop of colorful paint rollers, expertly added a serene orca whale, and challenged his young fans to create the rest. Torrey Pines Elementary School won a raffle to keep the finished masterpiece.      

Daniel Degenhardt, a fifth-grader visiting the aquarium from Colorado, added a skate, a fish related to sharks and rays, because the sea creatures are “cool.” He also walked away an advocate for conservation.           

“It’s important to preserve the animals so that people can see them after us,” Degenhardt said.

Close by, proud Del Mar papa Darrin Hegemier cheered on his 3-year-old daughter, Savvy, as she happily painted her version of purple kelp. Savvy and her older brother, Clayton, will learn about respecting their environment as they get older, he said.

Marine life artist Wyland and young painters put their best thumb forward to conserve the ocean Sept. 29 at Birch Aquarium at Scripps.

3-year-old Savvy Hegemier of Del Mar proudly points to her purple kelp during marine life artist Wyland’s Sept. 29 visit to Birch Aquarium.

“We’ve grown up around the ocean,” Hegemier said. “We will teach them everything.”

Promoting ocean conservation is part of Birch Aquarium’s core mission, and a visit by such a recognized and captivating artist goes a long way in communicating those crucial messages about the planet, aquarium Executive Director Nigella Hillgarth said.

“Children are drawn to him, parents are drawn to him — he’s a wonderful champion for our environment,” Hillgarth said. “Birch Aquarium and Scripps Oceanography are proud to support Wyland on this journey.”           

Wyland’s 2007 tour makes its next stop Oct. 10 at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Information about the Laguna Beach-based Wyland Foundation can be found here.