Children crowded around for his autograph and adults lined up to take his picture. Twenty years after completing his massive whale-migration mural on a western wall of the AES power plant, the artist Wyland last week returned to Redondo Beach to make some changes.
The restoration of his 586-foot long, 95-foot high mural was unveiled Thursday.
“I freshened it up,” Wyland said. “Now it will be around for many, many more years.”
The mural’s ocean became a little brighter, and a baby and full-grown blue whale were added. But Wyland, a committed environmentalist, was also in town to help kick off Earth Month and The Mayor’s Challenge for water conservation.
The challenge, which the Wyland Foundation started two years ago in South Florida, encourages neighboring cities to see who can conserve the most water through residential water-use reduction pledges. Wyland challenged mayors in Los Angeles and Orange counties to sign on.
“The mayors want this challenge because they are saving water and energy for their cities, and the citizens are demanding it,” Wyland said. “So what are we waiting for?”
Throughout April, residents of participating cities will sign up online and take the pledge.
“I am pleased [Wyland] chose to come back to Redondo and launch the Mayor’s Challenge,” Mayor Mike Gin said. “As soon as it was posed to us, we immediately jumped on board.”
Gin sees the challenge as an opportunity to inspire and engage citizens in conservation of natural resources. While Gov. Jerry Brown officially declared an end to the state’s drought last week, Gin still encouraged citizens to conserve water, the scarcity of which is an ongoing issue in California. He praised Wyland’s role in bringing attention to such issues.
“Wyland’s leadership in environmental awareness and water conservation is extraordinary,” Gin said.
Children and families taking the pledge will be able to follow their city’s progress in real time. While every city is recognized for its participation, two cities will win for having the highest percent of participating residents and the biggest impact in water use reduction.
“The Wyland Foundation is primarily focused on clean water – whether that’s fresh water or salt water – and educating the children,” said Keri Holden, project coordinator for Wyland Worldwide.
Most cities in Southern California are on board, and more than two billion gallons of water are expected to be conserved through the Mayor’s Challenge.
“This means the world to Wyland Foundation and our water conservation partners,” Wyland said.
Wyland’s art has helped raise environmental awareness. The artist said the community’s love for the Redondo mural he created early in his career, and its support for The Mayor’s Challenge, is extremely meaningful to him.
“It has been a fabulous journey,” he said.
For more information see www.wylandfoundation.org/waterpledge.com. ER
