|
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
PRESS RELEASE
(for immediate release – Monday, April 7, 2008)
Contact: click here to email newsroom
Office: (684) 633-4116 - Fax: (684) 633-2269 - Cell: (684) 733-4680
American Samoa hosts world-renowned artist to paint mural at EOB
 (UTULEI) – As the result of an invitation that was extended by Governor Togiola Tulafono during the most recent US Coral Reef Task Force meeting in Washington, DC, world-renowned ocean and wildlife artist and muralist Wyland will be visiting the Territory to work on a marine life mural at the Executive Office Building in Utulei on the north facing wall of EOB starting this afternoon. Wyland’s murals provide a lasting message of the importance to conserve and protect our oceans and marine life.
This year American Samoa, along with the rest of the world, is celebrating the International Year of the Reef (IYOR), a worldwide campaign to raise awareness about the value and importance of coral reef ecosystems. The marine life mural will be an inspirational portrait that emphasizes the importance of life underwater, and how we as a community can stand tall and work together to protect our ocean resources. The IYOR will help to strengthen awareness about the ecological, economic, social and cultural value of coral reefs and associated ecosystems as well as improve understanding of the critical threats to coral reefs and generate both practical and innovative solutions to reduce these threats. Through outreach activities such as Wyland’s mural project, the Coral Reef Advisory Group hopes to generate urgent action at all levels to develop and implement effective management strategies for conservation and sustainable use of these ecosystems.
The artist Wyland arrived last night and will be diving in the Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary (FBNMS) today to derive inspiration for his mural that will commemorate the Festival of Pacific Arts and International Year of the Reef. FBNMS is the smallest and most remote of the Nation’s National Marine Sanctuaries and was formed by an extinct vlocano. It is home to a diverse assortment of marine life including 271 species of fish and more than 200 species of coral. The Sanctuary is an integral part of American Samoa as it helps to enforce the relationship between Samoan people and their land, sea, and cultural traditions.
In order to carry out the mural project and be as inclusive as possible, Governor Togiola is asking each school in the Territory to appoint two students and an art teacher to assist Wyland with the mural. School administrators are asked to have different students participate each day with Wyland to give opportunities to all of our local students to have interaction and gain from this experience. Students and teachers are being asked to be at the EOB on Tuesday, April 8th to Thursday, April 11th from 8am to 2pm. Only lunch will be provided. Students, teachers and parents are asked to make all other arrangements for transportation and breakfast.
“I am very excited about this large-scale project that we are about to undertake. I extend my most heartfelt gratitude to Wyland and his foundation for making this project possible. Through efforts such as this, we hope to foster in our children and community a strong sense of appreciation for our environment and a strong commitment to its conservation,” said Governor Togiola.
The children will not only get to observe the world famous painter up close, they will also be able to work side by side with him and their very own mural project, as well as participate in a variety of other environmentally themed educational activities. ASG staff is working closely with the Coral Reef Advisory Group to make sure that these events are both fun and educational. Employees from the Department of Commerce and the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources will be setting up a circuit of different activities including a station to paint fish, a clinic on fishing and fish identification, and a few physical activities related to environmental messages including a Turtle Hurdle which will teach the children important facts about our local sea turtles.
The week long event will culminate on Saturday morning with an official unveiling presented by the Governor.
BIOGRAPHY OF WYLAND
Robert Wyland was born in 1956 in Detroit Michigan. Known simply as Wyland, he is an artist best known for painting large, outdoor murals of whales and other ocean life throughout the US, as well as Canada, Japan, Australia, Mexico, France and New Zealand. He has been a pioneer in the marine art movement since 1971. This painter, sculptor, and muralist is one of the most prolific and celebrated artists of our time.
Wyland paints in watercolors and oils in celebration of underwater sea life in his paintings and bronze sculptures.
Wyland divides his time between Oahu, Hawaii; Laguna Beach, California; and Florida. He has a goal of painting 100 Whaling Walls.
To date, in addition to his spectacular paintings of a wide variety of marine life, Wyland has completed 96 of his landmark murals, the renowned "Whaling Walls." The first Wyland public, large size mural was of the “Gray Whale and Calf” in Laguna Beach, California in July 1981. The Territory of Guam is the location of his 91st wall entitled “Guam’s Ocean Life” (at the International Airport) in February 2004. The 95th mural is a four-sided creation on the Penske Rentals Building in Key Largo, Florida in February 2007.
Wyland plans to paint his 100th Whaling Wall in Beijing, China during the 2008 Olympics.
---americansamoa.gov---
|
