There were many Aha! moments for the thousands of fairgoers that came out to second annual South Florida Wyland Living Green Fair last weekend at Mizner Park in Downtown Boca Raton that featured globally renowned marine life artist and leading international advocate for marine resource conservation advocate Wyland painting a new 50-foot mural each day with children, eco-conscious Disney teen stars that set out to “Rock Out This Planet” and a host of engaging and entertaining interactive activities, organic cooking demos by South Florida chefs and food tastings; product showcases, displays of eco-friendly hybrid cars; and more to show that now more than ever, it is easy, smart and stylish to live greener.
The free regional interactive community experience brought together art, community involvement, and awareness about the environment to share how individuals and families can do better for the Earth and live a higher quality of lifestyle. Passionate about the fair’s mission, Wyland (www.wyland.com) -- who was hailed a “Marine Michelangelo” by USA Today --lent his name and commitment to the fair as the City of Boca Raton lent the green space and hosted the regional event. Created to lead the way in educating families, communities and businesses on how to easily incorporate eco-friendly living with simple steps in everyday activities, fairgoers of all ages engaged.
Popular stops included the Kids Eco-zone presented by Gumbo Limbo Nature Center; the Wyland Clean Water Mobile Learning Center complete with a 40-person theater, a running river, video microscopes, a watershed exhibit with actual rainfall; Wyland’s Water’s Extreme Journey Maze; photos with the Green Man; live entertainment; movies; concert performances by Disney Channel and Radio Disney teen stars and an impressive a line-up of eco-friendly exhibitors of products and services.
“While having fun, fairgoers learned how to purchase better environmentally safe products, create less waste, see and try the newest innovative products and services, and get involved in eco-friendly programs,” noted Wyland Living Green Fair Founder David Etzler. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the nonprofit Wyland Foundation (www.wylandfoundation.org) in support of its important global awareness and educational projects and initiatives.
“It was truly gratifying that Wyland, with his creative forces and worldwide following, as title sponsor of this year’s fair and pleased to team up with the City of Boca Raton and Downtown Boca and such cultural and entertainment partners as the Boca Raton Museum of Art , Sound Tree Entertainment to deliver be a fun, family-friendly, engaging event for the public to enjoy,” added David Etzler. WLGF Eco-friendly sponsors include PNC Bank, the official WLGF Banking Sponsor; JM Family Enterprises, the official WLGF Education Outreach Sponsor; Boca Raton Resort & Club, the official WLGF Hotel; Kohler; Office Depot; Whole Foods; Toyota: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC; JM Lexus; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida; GGP; Royal Palm Place; Bella Doors and Windows; Panache; Artesian Chefs; Earthera; Michaels; Wool; Artistic Cabinetry; Kaye Communications, Inc., and Boca Raton Symphonia.
City of Boca Raton Mayor Susan Whelchel added that, “We are delighted that such an important respected eco-friendly event such as the Wyland Living Green Fair has chose Downtown Boca as its official new home in recognition of our City’s great strides in this area and what we do to heighten green consciousness on a daily basis.”
For continuous updates and helpful “green living” tips and news as well as year ‘round Wyland Living Green Fair programs and activities, visit www.livinggreenfair.com, follow twitter/green_fair, friend on Facebook, email info@livinggreenfair.com or call 561-241-7309.
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About Wyland: Marine Life Artist Wyland (www.wyland.com) has earned the distinction as one of America’s most unique creative influences, and a leading advocate for marine resource conservation. An accomplished painter, sculptor, photographer, writer, and SCUBA diver, he has traveled the farthest reaches of the globe for more than 25 years, capturing the raw power and beauty of the undersea universe. The artist’s efforts, moreover, have been recognized by the United Nations, Sierra Club, the Underwater Academy of Arts and Sciences, where he is listed among its Diving Hall of Fame, and private and public institutions throughout the world. Listed in Who’s Who in American Art, the Guinness Book of World Records, and many other national and international publications, the multi-faceted artist has even hosted several series for television, including, “Wyland’s Ocean World” on the Discovery Channel’s Animal Planet Network. In spring 2010, the United Nations unveiled a commemorative stamp issue of Wyland artwork to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the UNESCO’S Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. Today, Wyland is considered one of the most influential artists of the 21st Century, with artwork in museums, corporate collections, and private homes in more than one hundred countries. For more information, call Steve Creech at stevec@wylanddesign.com or 949-973-7070.
About the Wyland Foundation: Founded by renowned environmental artist Wyland, the nonprofit Wyland Foundation has helped children and families around the nation to rediscover the importance of healthy oceans and waterways through public art programs, classroom science education, and live events. The foundation gives children the tools they need to become more creative, positive, and solution-oriented. It has supported numerous conservation programs since its inception as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 1993, including marine artist Wyland’s monumental Whaling Wall mural project — an epic series of one hundred life size marine life murals that spans twelve countries on four continents, and is viewed by an estimated 1 billion people every year. The Wyland Foundation, in partnership with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, is actively engaged in teaching millions of students about our oceans, rivers, lakes, streams, and wetlands. For more information, visit http://www.wylandfoundation.org/.
