Wyland

Artist and mural painter Wyland is the subject of a new documentary titled Wyland: Earth Day.

San Diego News 2009

Artist and mural painter Wyland is the subject of a new documentary titled Wyland: Earth Day.

San Diego News 2009

After years of loaning the image to the state of California, Wyland made the apparently grave mistake of asking for a portion of the coastal commission whale tail proceeds to help fund environmental education programs through his Wyland Foundation www.wylandfoundation.org on an ongoing basis.

Steve Creech: Like Crabs Pulling Down Our Environment: Wyland vs. the California Coastal Commission Steve Creech 2011

Wyland made the request, starting with 20 percent of net proceeds going forward to support environmental education program initiatives like his traveling clean water mobile center, clean water interactive maze exhibitions, and conservation mural projects in underserved communities.

Steve Creech: Like Crabs Pulling Down Our Environment: Wyland vs. the California Coastal Commission Steve Creech 2011

When Wyland, the famous environmental artist, loaned one of his signature works of art to the state of California's Coastal Commission for a new license plate sixteen years ago to fund environmental awareness programs in the state, I'm sure the last thing on his mind would be attempts by the "friends of the Coastal Commission" to pull his years of environmental outreach efforts down.

Steve Creech: Like Crabs Pulling Down Our Environment: Wyland vs. the California Coastal Commission Steve Creech 2011

The state elected to stop issuing the Wyland license plate and the artist was summarily brushed aside.

Steve Creech: Like Crabs Pulling Down Our Environment: Wyland vs. the California Coastal Commission Steve Creech 2011

But the state of California is suffering from numerous environmental problems -- rampant overdevelopment along our coast, non-point pollution, and many other issues related to enormous population growth - and the Wyland foundation is working to raise awareness about those problems.

Steve Creech: Like Crabs Pulling Down Our Environment: Wyland vs. the California Coastal Commission Steve Creech 2011

The Wyland Foundation is currently working with the US Forest Service on a new program called FOCUS Forests, Oceans, Climate -- and us to raise awareness about the function of forests and our ocean in regulating climate.

Steve Creech: Like Crabs Pulling Down Our Environment: Wyland vs. the California Coastal Commission Steve Creech 2011

Not a single solitary penny from the Whale Tail license plate that Wyland created and generously loaned to the Coastal Commission was ever intended to go to Wyland himself.

Steve Creech: Like Crabs Pulling Down Our Environment: Wyland vs. the California Coastal Commission Steve Creech 2011

There was a very good reason we tried to negotiate with the coastal commission for funding for our foundation ... because the Wyland Foundation undertakes many, many environmental education projects across the state and across the country.

Steve Creech: Like Crabs Pulling Down Our Environment: Wyland vs. the California Coastal Commission Steve Creech 2011