South Padre Island, Texas Wyland Whaling Wall 53

History of the South Padre Island, Wyland Whaling Wall 53

-Orcas off the Gulf of Mexico

Whaling wall 53

After it was dedicated in March 1994 at the South Padre Island Convention Center, Wyland’s mural, entitled, “Orcas off the Gulf of Mexico,” held the unofficial title of one of the most unique depictions of whales in his Whaling Wall public art series. Although orcas are rarely seen in the gulf, this piece of art was imagined more to showcase interconnectedness of the world’s marine ecosystems. In fact, Wyland has long been influenced by the biodiversity found in South Padre Island , a thriving ecosystem inhabited by dolphins, sea turtles, and many varieties of fish. By the 1990s, however, the Gulf experienced a wide range of significant environmental issues, not least of which included oil spills and coastal habitat loss stemming from rapid development and overfishing.

Mural number 53, like all of Wyland’s work, is a powerful conversation starter about the importance of taking care of our environment. It is the Wyland Foundation's hope that, through
public art much like Wyland’s murals, the world will begin to notice the connection between human activity and marine conservation. Through arts and science efforts, like the WylandClean Water Mobile Learning Center and the National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation, The Wyland Foundation seeks to educate people on the impact our actions
upstream will have on downstream ecosystems, like the Gulf of Mexico.

Did You Know?

The Gulf of Mexico spans around 600,000 square miles and serves as home to some of the most productive environments for marine life in the world. However, detrimental oil spills, like the Deepwater Horizon Spill in 2010, threaten every aspect of the gulf. The Horizon spill alone released over 200 million gallons of crude oil. The endangered Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles chose South Padre Island to act as their nesting grounds, making conservation in this area increasingly crucial.

While orcas are certainly rare in the Gulf of Mexico, this beautiful mural reminds every visitor to South Padre Island, Texas, that commitment to clean water and healthy oceans is a global responsibility, regardless of state or country lines. Wyland’s inspirational art drives the world to
action, encouraging preservation of the Gulf’s beauty.

South Padre Island Convention Ctr
7355 Padre Boulevard
South Padre Island, Texas
265 Feet Long x 25 Feet High
Dedicated March 14th, 1994

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