Cory Diane

Musician (New Orleans, LA)

Part of New Orleans-based composer Cory Diane’s work centers the ecological complexity and vibrancy of the Gulf of Mexico. In their contemporary electroacoustic piece “Reverie for the Baleen of the Gulf of Mexico of Many and No Known Names,” Diane uses degraded ocean soundscapes and Rice’s whale songs to convey the haunting reality of the threats faced by these animals. Check out NRDC’s Q&A with Diane that discusses the inspiration behind the composition, their creative process, and the broader social impact of their work.

More from Cory Diane: Antigravity Interview

Katie Bryden

Documentarist (St. Petersburg, FL)

Katie Bryden is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and photographer based in St. Peterburg, FL. Her work uplifts the stories of those who have been underrepresented, highlighting ocean advocates and endangered species. She is currently working on a documentary focusing on the Rice’s whale and local Gulf storytellers.

Check out her work here.

Credit: Katie Bryden

Christian Wagley

Organizer (Pensacola, FL)

Christian is an organizer for Healthy Gulf, where he works to protect water quality, improve coastal resilience, and advocate for the endangered Rice’s whale. He led the effort to create the Gulf Coast Whale Festival.

The inaugural Gulf Coast Whale Festival brought whale education and fun to Pensacola Beach, Florida, on Saturday, April 27, 2024. Students, artists, biologists, educators, puppeteers, advocates, and musicians helped the world of Gulf of Mexico whales come to life with games, activities, lessons, and tunes.

Local high school students from the Navarre Beach Marine Science Station even inflated a replica of a Rice’s whale they built in their classroom. Artist and biologist Tommy Tucker created a tapestry with 51 whales—denoting the population estimate of 51 remaining Rice’s whales.

Dozens of pieces of whale art were on display, courtesy of students at Pensacola Beach Elementary School. New Orleans musician Cory Diane stepped onto the Festival stage and performed an original score of music combined with whale calls from the Gulf.

The amazing contributions from so many local people, and the enthusiasm from the 1000 or so festival-goers throughout the day, made it such a memorable event that we plan to do again in 2025. It’s all about creating a “whale culture” on the Gulf coast, as many residents are just now learning about the wonders of the whales that swim our local waters.

The Gulf Coast Whale Festival was sponsored by Natural Resources Defense Council, Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, and Healthy Gulf.

Photos:
Christian Wagley

Video:
Katie Bryden

Andy Saczynski

Artist (Emerald Coast, FL)

Florida artist takes up the cause of Rice’s whales

Like many artists, Santa Rosa Beach artist Andy Saczynski had a bucket list of projects he aspired to complete. One was to create a life-sized piece of whale art that could be enjoyed by the public.

So there was a bit of serendipity when he read a magazine article about one of the world’s rarest whales—the Rice’s whale — that lived right of the northwest Florida coast he called home. Now he had a solid idea for a 30-foot-long Rice’s whale, which he took to local restauranteur Jim Shirley.

Shirley agreed to provide a large wall space for the whale at his North Beach Social restaurant overlooking Choctawhatchee Bay. Over some 55 hours of work, Saczynski cut and shaped plywood pieces into a 30-foot-long whale, with pelagic fish and elaborate textures and colors. Thousands of diners get to enjoy the whale and take home a lesson in marine conservation. It’s another example of how artists along the Gulf coast are taking up the cause of the Rice’s whale.

Credit: Andy Saczynski

Kelly Quinn

Artist (St. Petersburg, FL)

Credit: Kelly Quinn

Based in St. Petersburg, Florida, Kelly Quinn is a Scientific Illustrator and the Art Director of Canvas of the Wild (COTW), where she specializes in serving science at the intersection of art and design. Quinn is an accomplished digital and traditional artist with a history of working with local communities, museums, science organizations, and researchers since 2016. From scientific illustrations, infographics, and murals to coloring and activity books, she develops visualizations for communicating research and creating engaging outreach campaigns through the interactive art medium. She is the creator of the “Our Gulf, Our Whale” logo.

Check out NRDC’s Q&A with Quinn which discusses her work with COTW, the creative process, and her thoughts on the current state of ocean conservation.

Explore Kelly Quinn's gallery at www.kellyofthewild.com, connect with her at kelly@ofthewild.org, and follow on social media @kellyofthewild.

Madison Wurthner

Student/Youth Activist (North Tampa, FL)

Madison is leading efforts to conserve the Rice’s Whale at her high school and broader community. As a youth advocate working with NRDC and other environmental non-profits, she has become a powerful voice for this critically endangered species. Madison speaks to various organizations – like SCUBAnauts – and youth residents across Florida, inspiring students to get involved in conservation efforts. She created a petition for Rice’s Whale to represent the voices of Florida’s youth on this issue.

Alongside her advocacy work, Madison collaborates with teachers in her community to develop lesson plans that raise awareness about the Rice’s Whale and the need for action. Through her leadership and dedication, Madison is setting an example for her community, showing how young people can drive meaningful change.

Credit: Madison Wurthner

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