San Diego Wyland Whaling Wall 19

History of the San Diego Wyland Whaling Wall 19

-Forbidden Reef

Returning from Europe, Wyland was invited to paint two new murals in San Diego. With SeaWorld shifting more ofus toward environmental conservation and education, Wyland was asked to create an image of a California Rocky reef that would showcase the variety of life just offshore. In the years that followed, Wyland’s reef opened millions of eyes to the wonder of life off the coast of southern California, from bat rays, eels, garibaldi, and other fish of the Pacific.

• The Forbidden Reef mural coincided with the significant strides in protecting coastal marine life in California. The establishment of new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) had given coastal ecosystems a new lease on life. But while the MPAs protected against removing sea life from the areas, more significant issues began to emerge, including pollution and the impact of tourism on these critical areas.

Whaling wall 19

SeaWorld, San Diego, California
90 Feet Long x 14 Feet High
Dedicated July 9, 1990
By Michael Peak, Author

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