Noted marine-life artist Wyland paints incredible, life-size ocean murals.  His sculptures and photography of dolphins, whales and other denizens of the sea are full of life, and communicate what can best be described as the wisdom native to these creatures.

But that’s only part of the picture.

Wyland is a dedicated environmentalist, scuba diver, educator and explorer, who uses art to teach literally millions of students, worldwide, about environmental stewardship.  His nonprofit Wyland Foundation partners with the U.S. Forest Service and National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration in an educational outreach to communities, with the goal of conservation of our oceans, waterways and wetlands.

Part of that effort is the Wyland Foundation’s annual National Mural and Art Challenge–and their 2014 competition is going on right now.  This is a nationwide art contest for schools, grades K through 12, and both individual student art projects and classroom murals are eligible to enter.  The deadline for submissions is November 25, 2014, and more information is available on the Wyland Foundation’s website.

Wyland visited the Aquarium of the Pacific, in Long Beach, California, in mid-September to kick off this year’s National Mural and Art Challenge, which is themed “Water is Life”. Just before starting to paint two ocean murals with several busloads of excited local students, he talked about his background, his experiences teaching the children and his vision for the future.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS