Art

Item Description

You are bidding on a pair of copper vaquita porpoise sculptures!

Ocean Futures Society feels so lucky to be able to offer you a chance to bid on these very special vaquita supltures donated by our friend, Mark Noll. They will look great hanging on your wall or in your garden!

Mark's Vaquita Story:
"Earlier this year, Save the Whales co-founder Maris Sidenstecker shared the plight of the vaquita porpoise and encouraged me to create a metal sculpture. For a model, she shared photos of the life-sized vaquita sculpture co-founder Thomas Jefferson had commissioned for their education and outreach efforts. I was moved by the vaquita’s story: the world’s most endangered cetacean species, a window of about two years to try to save the species, and its tiny habitat range in Mexico’s Gulf of California. This vaquita pair is the first I’ve made so far. I used a naturally-age piece of copper that may have been tucked away in corner somewhere for decades. It’s very rewarding to take an old piece of forgotten metal and bring it to life! "

About Mark's Artistic Process:
"Your metal nature sculpture is made from a sheet of solid copper or aluminum. The metal is repurposed, originally to be used for roof flashing. Sometimes, I use naturally-aged pieces of copper that may have been tucked away in a corner somewhere for many years.

First, I draw the rough shape on the metal and cut it out with aviation snips. Chisels, punches, hammers, and mallets bring the form to life. After polishing the surface with ultrafine steel wool, I etch it with a patina solution or wipe on an antiquing wax.

Finally, the piece is sprayed with a clear coat to preserve the colors and finish, and a glass taxidermy eye is added on some pieces. I’m self-taught and use a blend of tools from traditional metalworking, autobody work, and woodworking."

About Mark Noll, Nature Art Studios:
Mark Noll from Nature Art Studios grew up on Buzzards Bay in Massachusetts. As a boy, the shoreline and ocean were his constant companions.

Fascinated by the Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau, he attended the local college intent on becoming a marine biologist. As fate would have it, the research vessel, an old fishing boat, was always broken down and getting an internship at Woods Hole was nearly impossible! To help pay for college expenses, he began creating marine animal sculptures that made their way to the New England and Baltimore Aquariums’ gift shops.

After college, he and his bride Wendy made the journey to Oregon and he put his art on hold to pursue a professional career and raise a family. The need to make art persisted and he has now found a home creating nature sculptures using repurposed metals.

He’s been creating this metal art for a few years now and loves to experiment with different designs, tools, and patina finishes. In that short time, the fish, marine mammal, bird, dragonfly, butterfly, and guitar pieces have made their way to patrons all over the country and around the world. Ironically, his most famous patron is the legendary rock guitarist Slash. His wife Perla recently gave him a Les Paul guitar sculpture for their tenth anniversary, and it hangs in his home studio.

A family affair, wife Wendy does the calligraphy lettering on the metal signs and son Ethan has learned to make copper fish and cool masks, and is learning to build acoustic and electric guitars.

Item Special Note

"Vaquita porpoise I" measures approx. 16" wide by 9" high.

"Vaquita porpoise II" measures approx. 17" wide by 8" high.

Each sculpture has a title, artist signature and date on back.

Bidder is responsible for Shipping, Handling and insurance fees, which will be added to the winning bid amount. Items will be shipped from Ocean Futures Society in California via UPS 3-Day and billed at standard industry rates. Shipments originating at Ocean Futures Society are carbon neutral. (If shipment is international, Bidder will also be responsible for any customs fees.)