Ontario, Canada Wyland Whaling Wall 77

History of the Ontario, Canada Wyland Whaling Wall 77

-Eye of the Whale

Whaling wall 77

The prestigious Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto acts as the home for Wyland’s “Eye of the Whale”, a reflection of the artist’s desire to bring the ocean to landlocked cities across the world. In the mural, we see a close-up of a whale’s eye, providing an intimate connection to Earth’s largest of creatures. In October 1997, Dr. Lindsay G. Sharp, Director and President of the Royal Ontario Museum lovingly dedicated this mural. It was the Royal Ontario Museum’s dedication to educating the public about natural history that drew Wyland to installing his mural at this location.

While Toronto is far from the ocean, it finds itself on the shores of Lake Ontario. With murals like “Eye of the Whale”, Wyland and the Wyland Foundation can draw attention to creating awareness around the effects of pollution on bodies of freshwater like The Great Lakes, especially those that connect directly to oceans.

Did You Know?

The largest freshwater system in the world, The Great Lakes, is home to five lakes. One of which, Lake Ontario, holds 393 cubic miles of water and connects to the Atlantic Ocean. Toronto faced a variety of pollution challenges in the 1990s, primarily due to waste and untreated stormwater runoff. The health of Lake Ontario began to decline as a result.

The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, reimagined in 1997, addressed toxic contamination of clean water and promoted initiatives to mitigate future risks. Toronto plays an important role in the Great Lakes ecosystem, which is why residents should pay close attention to how their upstream activities can affect downstream waters.

Royal Ontario Museum, Canada
100 Queen’s Park
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
70 Feet Long x 9 Feet High
Dedicated October 21st, 1997
By Dr. Lindsay G. Sharp, Director and
President of the Royal Ontario Museum

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