The underwater world at La Jolla Shores will soon be mapped out for everyone to see, and the steering committee is calling on the community to get involved. Birch Aquarium will host a benefit for “The Map” project on Monday, Sept. 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. Admission is free.
“The Map,” as the endeavor is called, will portray the La Jolla ecological reserve, underwater canyons, Kumeyaay Indian history and numerous fish in crushed glass. It will stretch across a plot of dirt next to the Kellogg Park playground, and seeks to educate people about the importance of preserving the ocean.
A three-dimensional, bronze Rose Compass (photo at left) will also decorate a corner of the map, featuring a life preserver surrounding the globe with a giant squid sprawling across it and axes pointing north, south, east and west.
“The artistic concept behind it was embracing the preservation of the oceans, which is thematic for what this project is,” said artist Rick Sparhawk, who sculpted the compass with D. Lynn Reeves. “The squid is embracing itself around the life preserver. In the center of that life preserver is the world with the oceans around it. It’s pretty simple.”
Sparhawk and Reeves also sculpted a replica of the Rose Compass to auction off at the map benefit. OE Express Scuba and Kayak on Avenida de la Playa also donated a couple of kayaks for the auction, and kayak rentals will be raffled off.
Key community figures are gathering in support of the map. District 3 County Supervisor Pam Slater-Price donated $50,000 to the project and will begin the evening with a few words.
Walter Munk, professor emeritus at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), has been named honorary chair of the committee and will also speak at the benefit. Munk taught geophysics at SIO and has pioneered numerous oceanographic studies. In 1968, he became a member of JACOB, a panel of scientists who advise the government, and has won numerous awards, including the Kyoto Prize in 1999.
“His role is both to bring legitimacy and good, sound science to the dialogue in helping people be educated,” said committee member Megan Bailiff, who also sits on the National Board of Directors for the Surfrider Foundation.
Selected parts of the map will be shown at the benefit. Wine, beer, coffee and hors d’oeuvres will be served, and docents will be available to offer information about the aquarium.
The committee has raised $115,000 for the map so far but still needs another $100,000. Committee chair Mary Coakley expects that construction will begin in November.
Attendees are encouraged to RSVP by Sept. 14 in order to enter the raffle to win a kayak tour.
For more information about the map, call Coakley, (619) 840-0250, visit www.lajollashoresmap.com or e-mail [email protected].