Wyland downsizing in Laguna

Although Wyland’s art brand has gone global, with only one remaining gallery in Laguna Beach, his focus on ocean conservation is unchanged.

“Our message has never been, ‘Buy this painting!’” he said.

“It’s to learn everything we can about our environment, and use art to educate and inspire people to get involved.”

Wyland will feature his new Olympic art at a reception from 6 to 10 p.m. May 23 at his 509 S. Coast Hwy. gallery, which will include live painting demonstrations and signings.

To RSVP for the event, call (949) 376-8000.

He has closed his Laguna Canyon headquarters in favor of larger digs in Aliso Viejo; his Forest Avenue shop closed last year.

Wyland has been named an official artist for the U.S. Olympic Team in Beijing, and will serve through the 2010 games in Vancouver.

He currently is creating some of the final murals for his 100-mural Whaling Wall project, which he has been working on for more than two decades.

Last week, he painted a mural on the National Aquarium in Plymouth, England; this week, he has been in Brazil.

The final wall will be completed in Beijing.

As a pre-Olympic event in July, Wyland will create a mile-long, 62,400-square-foot marine mural with children from around the world in the Beijing International Sculpture Park.

His foundation created a biodiesel mobile learning center last fall that has taken clean water education and marine resource stewardship instruction to tens of thousands of children.

The center has its own 30-person theater; computer exhibits; a running river; video microscopes; and a raining watershed microcosm.

In addition, more than 100 million people have participated in Wyland’s clean water tours around the world.

Next month, the company will begin offering Spanish language tours at its Mexican clean water center.

He also hosts a PBS series on painting marine life; works on marine-themed arts in public places; participated in the 2008 White House Easter Egg Roll with a conservation mural; and will be the keynote speaker next month at the United Nations Environment Programme’s International Children’s Conference in Norway.

Wyland’s work is seen by thousands in the state daily as the iconic “Whale Tail” custom license plate, which benefits the California Coastal Commission.

“At the end of the day, it’s a brand for conservation,” Wyland said.

“Of course it’s pure art, but it’s art with a message. The idea was that people would see the art and the beauty and see the message. I dive in it, take photos of it, write about it, paint it, sculpt it, paint it on the sides of buildings, and now I’m writing songs about it. The investments you make, they eventually bear fruit.”

CANDICE BAKER can be reached at (949) 494-5480 or at candice.baker@latimes.com.