Artist Robert Wyland starts the freshening-up process on his whale-themed work Wednesday.
“This year marks the 50th anniversary of 1969 Cuyahoga River fire,” said Wyland Foundation president Steve Creech in a statement. “The Wyland murals have always been intended to raise awareness about clean water and healthy oceans, so we couldn’t think of a better time to restore the mural than this year.”
The large artwork will also be rededicated upon completion on Friday. People are encouraged to stop by and watch the artist at work during the restoration process.
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(Original Story 4/4/2019): Muralist Robert Wyland arrived in Cleveland yesterday to announce intentions to update his giant mammal-themed mural “Song of the Whales,” which can be viewed on the Cleveland Public Power Plant just off I-90.
Painted in 1997, the whales (which there are none of in Lake Erie) have faded with age. The mural update is estimated to cost around $30,000, about a dollar per square foot.
“I’ve been touching up quite a few lately,” Wyland recently told Ideastream. “If I can’t do it, I encourage local artists and painters to get together to try and save as many of these murals as I can.”
The artist also talked about efforts to improve water conservation in Northeast Ohio through his Wyland Foundation. People can donate to the project through Wyland’s foundation.
Check out all 100 of Wyland’s whale murals, which are found on sides of buildings throughout the world, right here.
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This article appears in Apr 3-9, 2019.
Id prefer that that entire monstrosity on the lakefront would go away.just one of the many eyesores that makes the drive along the shoreway pathetic. Yes its better with the mural but it would be a lot better to just rid the lakefront of that huge electric switching station and that shutdown power plant.
And while youre at it, do something about that pile of crap on the lakefront as you drive west out of downtown.
How many generations have to see these horrendous eyesores on what could be a beautiful lakefront?
eat a Snickers Buddy
Amen Curt…
Excellent ! I’ve always loved looking at that thing and wondered who did it. I can’t recall how bad that area looks aside from the mural as a previous writer stated butwhile it’s still there nice to enjoy the mural. Always a good idea to draw attention to the importance of clean water as well.
I agree with OHYES above. That is a horrible monstrosity and it would have been gone 30 years ago if not for Dennis Kucinich. All the talk about Burke bring an issue and this ugly and useless building is treated like a monument. Its insane. Its ugly and theres no mural that can be better than the view of the lake itself. And yes, get rid of the pile of crap by the river as you drive west on the Shoreway.
Why would the scene glorify that ugly piece of trash building?
Oh course where else but in Cleveland would you see giant whales jumping out of a lake. Sheesh
These BAD comments are from UNHAPPY people who are dissapointed with life and EVERY FUCKING thing bothers them.