| What: | Press Conference to unveil renowned artist Wyland’s 27-year environmental art project. The installation is an international effort celebrating children, art, and the environment. |
| When: | Tuesday, September 30, 2008 11:00am-11:30am Rain or shine |
| Where: | In front of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History Madison Drive and 10th Street, on the National Mall |
| Who: | James Connaughton, Chairman, White House Council
on Environmental Quality Lynn Scarlett, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior Conrad C. Lautenbacher, NOAA Administrator Wyland, Artist and Founder, Wyland Foundation, introduced by Mark Victor Hansen, creator, Chicken Soup for the Soul Cristian Samper, Director, National Museum of Natural History Tracy Bowen, Executive Director, Alice Fergusson Foundation |
| Background: | “Hands Across the Ocean,” an art project by Wyland, was created in Chaoyang Park, Beijing, China for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Cultural Festival and the Green Olympics. This project includes one half mile of murals created by children from 110 countries to promote the environmental sustainability of oceans, lakes, rivers and wetlands from 205 Olympic countries. This project comprises fifty-four 450 square foot murals (10'x45') for a total length of 3,200 meters. The Wyland Foundation has installed this project on the National Mall to coincide with the opening of the new Sant Ocean Hall in the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. |