HONOLULU, Hawaii, August 30, 2015 (PangeaSeed) – PangeaSeed, the international marine conservation organization, in collaboration with 1xRUN, Tony Delfino, and World Art Destinations, hosted the second annual summer series of its groundbreaking mural festival, Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans. The festival took place from July 17 – 26, 2015, creatively beautifying the Caribbean island of Cozumel, Mexico, while bringing education, connection, and inspiration to the community. Within the span of 5 days, 35 large-scale public murals were realized throughout Cozumel’s town center, addressing pressing marine environmental issues such as shark finning, over fishing, coastal development, climate change, and coral reef conservation. This series of Sea Walls murals helps educate and raise greatly needed awareness within the local and tourist communities for the plight of our ocean and the life that calls it home.

Cozumel Fountain_Photo by The Stills AgencyMusician_Meggs_Photo by @NatePeraccinyAaron Glasson_Process 2_Photo by Dan Armand Alexis Diaz_Process 1_Photo by The Stills Agency Amandalynn_Process 1_Photo by The Stills Agency Bicicleta Sem Freio shot by Martha Cooper_Process_Photo by Nate Peracciny Caratoes_Process 1_Photo by The Stills Agency

In addition to the realization of the murals, the artists had the opportunity to immerse themselves into and experience the various marine ecosystems of Cozumel Island, and learn from local experts about environmental challenges they are facing. The team also had the chance to both witness endangered sea turtles lay their eggs, as well as help release sea turtle hatchlings into the ocean.

Martha Cooper_Photo by Dan Armand for 1xRun Punta Sur Ride_Photo by The Stills AgencyChristopher Konecki_Process 1_Photo by The Stills Agency

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Cryptik_Process 2_Photo by Dan Armand Curiot_Process 1_Photo by Nate Peracciny CYH Jayson_Process 2_Photo by The Stills Agency Faith47_Process 2_Photo by The Stills Agency Faith47_Process 3_Photo by Josh Wright

Throughout the week, PangeaSeed team members facilitated youth educational activities where the island’s local kids were able to learn about the importance of marine animals such as sharks, turtles, and dolphins whilst making arts and crafts from reclaimed materials.

Furthermore, a public screening of award-winning documentary film México Pelágico attracted over 200 residents to the main square of Cozumel. The film highlights the vast diversity of marine biodiversity in Mexico, the challenges, and pioneering efforts to help sustain the health of the ocean ecosystem in Mexico.

Honghikuri mural_Photo by The Stills Agency Punta Sur_Crocodile Watching_Photo by The Stills Agency (1) Sea Turtle Release_Baby Loggerhead Turtle_Photo by The Stills AgencyHueman_Process 1_Photo by Dan Armand Hueman_Process 2_Photo by Emad Rashidi Jason Botkin_Process 1_Photo by Nate Peracciny Kai Kaulukukui_Process 2_Photo by The Stills Agency Tatiana Suarez_Process 1_Photo by Miya Tsukazaki The London Police_Process 1_Photo by The Stills Agency

PangeaSeed’s Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans is the first movement of its kind helping to save our seas via public art and activism (ARTivism). The festival featured over 50 contemporary artists from across the globe, collaborating to bring vital ocean environmental issues into the spotlight. Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans aims to educate and inspire individuals and communities to protect the planet’s most important ecosystem: the ocean.

“The power of public art and activism has the ability to educate and inspire the global community to help save our seas. No matter where you are in the world, the ocean supplies us with every second breath we take and life on Earth cannot exist without healthy oceans. With dwindling global fish stocks, rising sea levels, and widespread pollution, whether you live on the coast, in the city or in the mountains, we should all feel responsible for the health of the oceans and life that lives within it,” says PangeaSeed Executive Director Tre’ Packard.

Aaron Glasson_Final 1_Photo by Emad RashidiAlexis Diaz_Cryptik_Fintan Magee_Photo 2_Photo by The Stills Agency Amanda Lynn_FInal 2_Photo by Dan Armand Bicicleta Sem Freio_Final 2_Photo by The Stills Agency Caratoes x Celeste Byers_Final 3_Photo by Emad Rashidi Christopher Konecki_Final 3_Photo by The Stills Agency Colectivo La Quinta_Final Detail_Photo by The Stills Agency Colectivo La Quinta_Final_Photo by Tre Packard Cryptik_Final 2_Photo by Dan Armand Cryptik_Final Detail 1_Photo by Tre Packard Curiot_Final 1_Photo by Tre PackardCYH Jayson_Final 1_Photo by Emad Rashidi Dherzu Uzala_Final 1_Photo by The Stills Agency Ever_Final 2_Photo byNate Peracciny Faith47_Wall 1_Final 3_Photo by The Stills Agency Faith47_Wall 2_Final 2_Photo by Dan Armand Honghikuri_Final_Photo by Tre Packard Hueman_Final 2_Photo by Tre Packard Ian Ross_Final 1_Photo by Tre Packard Ian Ross_Seaweed Installation Final_Photo by Zane MeyerJack Fox_Final 1_Photo by Tre Packard Jason Botkin_Final 2_Photo by The Stills Agency JAZ_Final 1_Photo by Nate Peracciny Jesus Benitez_Final 2_Photo by Nate Peracciny Kai Kaulukukui_Final 1_Photo by Tre Packard Liz Rashell_Final 1_Photo by The Stills Agency Meggs_Final 2_Photo by Meggs Melhor_Final 1_Photo by Tre Packard N3O_Final 1_Photo by The Stills Agency Naturel_Final 3_Photo by Tre Packard News_Final 2_Photo by Tre PackardOsel_Final Detail_Photo by Tre Packard Paola Delfin_Final 3_Photo by Tre Packard Phlegm_Final 1_Photo by The Stills Agency Seher One_Final 1_Photo by The Stills Agency Smithe_Final 2_Photo by Nate Peracciny Tatiana Suarez_Final 2_Photo by Emad Rashidi Tristan Eaton X The London Police_Final 1_Photo by The Stills Agency Zio Ziegler_Final 2_Photo by The Stills Agency

Follow @pangeaseed and @seawalls_ on Instagram and Twitter, and visit PangeaSeed.org for more information.