WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Wyland -- a globally recognized artist, environmental advocate and the official artist for NOAA's 200th celebration of science, service and stewardship to the nation -- has unveiled his original commemorative oil painting, entitled Water Planet. From the establishment of the Survey of the Coast in 1807 by Thomas Jefferson to the formation of the Weather Bureau and the Commission of Fish and Fisheries in the 1870s, much of America's scientific heritage is rooted in NOAA.
"Wyland has the extraordinary gift of bringing the marine environment into people's daily lives and helping them appreciate its majestic beauty," said retired Navy Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. "The partnership of Wyland's inspirational creativity and NOAA's rich history create the perfect bridge connecting the worlds of art and science."
"Water Planet explores the range of natural forces that shape the Earth," said Wyland. "I wanted to give the viewer a sense of our water planet from many views, above and below, and even from space."
A full size reproduction of Wyland's original four foot by seven foot work will be prominently displayed at NOAA headquarters. Wyland also donated 200 lithographs, numbered from 1807 to 2007 -- spanning the years of NOAA's history -- and signed by Wyland and Lautenbacher.
"NOAA literally takes the pulse of the planet," added Wyland. "They have been a driving force in providing science, service, and stewardship that may very well save our world. To be the official artist to create the commemorative artwork for NOAA's 200th celebration was the highest honor for me."
Based in Laguna Beach, Calif., Wyland has long been associated with grassroots outreach, community art and education programs, clean water awareness tours and public arts projects. He rose to prominence with the creation of his gigantic Whaling Wall murals around the world. Wyland operates the non-profit Wyland Foundation, dedicated to promoting, protecting and preserving the world's oceans, waterways and marine life. The foundation encourages environmental awareness through education programs, public arts projects and community events.
NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and information service delivery for transportation, and by providing environmental stewardship of the nation's coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners, more than 70 countries and the European Commission to develop a global monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and protects.
On the Web:
NOAA 200th Celebration: http://celebrating200years.noaa.gov
Wyland: http://www.wylandfoundation.org