Whale Mural to Be Dedicated Today
LONG BEACH — Artist Wyland’s whale mural on the Long Beach arena will be dedicated today and recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest mural.
The life-size gray whales mural, which was splashed onto the 116,000 square-foot arena, put Wyland one-third of the way toward his goal of painting 100 such walls. He dedicated his first whaling wall in Laguna Beach 11 years ago today. The Long Beach wall is his 33rd.
Wyland began painting the arena in late April, despite objections by area architects, artists and some environmentalists. The city planned to dedicate the project in May but postponed the ceremonies because of the rioting and other civil unrest in Long Beach and Los Angeles.
Ceremonies to honor Wyland and the more than 300 volunteers who helped him will begin at 11 a.m and include entertainment by the Civic Light Opera and speeches by the artist, a marine biologist from Save the Whales and city officials.
At 5:30 p.m., Wyland will be honored at an invitation-only reception for $50 per person. Proceeds will help offset the $150,000 cost of the wall.
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