Peggy Oki's "Homage to Megaptera"

By William Rossiter

Peggy Oki needs your help to help whales! You'll remember her 30,000 Origami Whale Curtain, displayed at the IWC meeting in Anchorage, and profiled in CSI's July newsletter. Peggy had persisted against many odds to present the curtain there, as the mindset of IWC people is not tuned to art. But many were then moved by their immersion in the colorful, flowing, evocative and absorbing display, which is still on tour. It should be at the Chile IWC meeting too!

To communicate her concerns for whales Peggy works her art hard, just as she leverages her fame as a surfer, mountain climber, and professional skateboarder to draw in people to share her concerns.

When Peggy learned of Japan's intent to kill humpbacks, she was inspired to create "Homage to Megaptera", 50 original paintings of the flukes of real whales seen in Antarctica, and likely to be targeted by Japan. Humpback tails are so unique that each painting is truly a portrait of a real individual known to researchers and whale watchers. As you read this we are helping Peggy to assemble the life histories of each of these Pacific humpbacks, to emphasize them as individuals, but targeted by whaling.

Here are two of these whales' portraits painted by Peggy:

You can see all these portraits, Peggy's statement and purpose with "Homage", and much more, at: http://www.peggy-oki.com/50flukes.html.

But how and why should you help Peggy? Because we think her origami curtain and "Homage" can make a difference at the next IWC meeting. You can help Peggy to get there, sign a petition and get your photo on one of the most inspiring web sites we have seen: "Minds in the Water; The Visual Petition Contest" gives 5 passionate people around the world the opportunity to travel with Rasta and other top surfers to the IWC (International Whaling Commission) meeting in Chile in June 2008. On an all expenses paid trip the person who gathers the largest quantity of portraits for the Visual Petition in their part of the world will help to physically hand the global petition to the delegates of the IWC.

Start by going to this web site: http://www.visualpetition.com/slippages/home.php. Click on "join petition now" for instructions, and enter member user: PeggyO. You vote for Peggy and "sign" the petition for yourself by uploading a photo of yourself holding a whale photo, which you can get and print from that web site, CSI's Photogallery, or anywhere. By New Years about 2,000 people had posted their photos; Peggy is number 998. What number will you be?