Wyland's Coastal Cleanup!
Internationally acclaimed marine life artist and environmentalist Wyland made Key West the final stop in his 16-city East Coast coastal cleanup. Best known for his life-size "Whaling Wall" murals, painted in 68 cities around the world to promote ocean conservation, Wyland began his 1,770-mile Ocean Challenge Coastal Cleanup in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. The goal of the project was to raise funds for environmental education and to inspire more than a million East Coast residents and visitors to protect and preserve the nation's marine habitats.
"The theme is one million people will make a difference," said Wyland, who has been recognized by the United Nations for his environmental outreach activities. "We're hoping to inspire all the people that participate to end up in Key West for the last leg."
Following the cleanup,
participants were invited to join Wyland at the "Whaling
Wall" site for an environmental rally and beach
party celebrating the completion of the Maine-to-Key
West effort.
A longtime supporter of Florida Keys marine conservation organizations including Reef Relief and the Dolphin Research Center, the artist has a home and three galleries in the Keys. He credits scuba diving on the Keys' living coral reef with being an ongoing inspiration for his marine life paintings and sculptures.
The Key West coastal cleanup was headquartered at the site of Wyland's Key West "Whaling Wall" mural in the island's Historic Seaport district. Participants were given gloves and collection bags, and encouraged to choose a section of Florida Keys waterfront or beach to beautify. All collected trash was, of course, surveyed and sorted for recycling.
Following the cleanup, participants were invited to join Wyland at the "Whaling Wall" site for an environmental rally and beach party celebrating the completion of the Maine-to-Key West effort. Attractions included ocean art activities with Wyland, prizes and giveaways, celebrity guests, an art festival and live music by the award-winning alternative rock band, "34 below."
The national finale of Wyland's coastal cleanup also kicked off a week of environmental and art-themed grand opening festivities for the artist's new gallery on the 600 block of Duval Street. Key West residents and visitors alike were on hand for the unveiling of Wyland's most recent environmental art.
Wyland's coastal cleanup was spearheaded
by the not-for-profit Wyland Foundation in conjunction with San Diego's
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Birch Aquarium at Scripps,
the Project AWARE Foundation and the Professional Association of Diving
Instructors. For more information, visit www.wylandoceanchallenge.org. 
