‘Whaling Wall’ Artist Plans Adjacent Mural

The city’s landmark “Whaling Wall” is soon to be painted over, so the artist who created it 15 years ago will seek approval Thursday for a new mural on his own property adjacent to the original wall.

Artist Wyland will ask the city’s Design Review Board for permission to create a similar ocean scene on the outside wall of his new gallery, now under construction in the 500 block of South Coast Highway, next to the Hotel Laguna.

The mural would be painted on tile and would be 12 feet high, 100 feet long and continuously lighted. It would be directly above the Whaling Wall, which is owned by the Hotel Laguna.

As part of an expansion, the hotel’s owner plans to paint over Wyland’s work so that the wall will match the cream color of the rest of the building. Despite a petition signed by people who wanted the wall preserved, the City Council decided in April not to interfere.

Claes Anderson, who leases and operates Hotel Laguna, said the mural is so chipped and weathered that is has become an eyesore. He will not say when the wall will be repainted.

Wyland, now an internationally known artist who lives on Oahu, had hoped to restore the wall. As a backup plan, the artist said he would install a new mural on his own building.

A spokesman for Wyland said the artist is being “very stoic” about losing his first Whaling Wall. Since painting it, he has completed almost 70 others across the nation and in other countries.

“It’s a very emotional issue with him, of course, because it was the very first wall,” spokesman Mike Venema said. “At the same time, without question, it was deteriorating.”

If the board approves the tile mural, Venema said, it should be completed in October.

That will not erase some residents’ sentiments for the original artwork.

“If you’re a tourist coming through Laguna Beach,” said Newport Beach resident Ed Regan, “the one picture you take with you is that Whaling Wall.”