Our Ocean, Our Youth Mural
Ocean Institute and Mares Foundation Unveil Mural
The Ocean Institute is proud to be the home of a powerful new mural created by renowned ocean advocate and artist NöcHe, in
collaboration with the Mares Foundation. This project stands as a testament to the Ocean Institute’s unwavering mission to inspire ocean conservation through education and hands-on experiences. By partnering with the Mares Foundation, an organization deeply committed to empowering youth across Latin America through ocean literacy, this highlights the reality that environmental issues know no borders. This mural is a symbol of our shared responsibility to protect and respect the ocean, and it beautifully illustrates the unity required to address global environmental challenges.
The mural was unveiled on Tuesday, October 8th, 2024. The completion of this mural during National Hispanic Heritage Month further underscores the significance of this collaboration. It celebrates the rich cultural heritage and contributions of the Hispanic community to environmental stewardship while highlighting the importance of cross-border cooperation in protecting our shared ocean ecosystems. NöcHe’s art, infused with cultural and environmental significance, reflects a global commitment to conservation that transcends boundaries.
The Mural as a Teaching Tool
The Ocean Institute’s mission has always been grounded in its commitment to protect, conserve, and respect ocean ecosystems through public engagement, innovative education, and experiential-based learning. Every year, the Institute educates thousands of students and visitors, immersing them in hands-on programs that cultivate a love for the ocean and inspire action. This mural is a natural extension of that mission, utilizing art as a tool to spark curiosity and promote environmental awareness. The mural itself is a vivid representation of Southern California’s rich marine life and ecosystems, inviting every visitor to reflect on the delicate balance of our coastal environment. More than a piece of art, it’s a call to action—one that invites the public to join the Ocean Institute in its mission to ensure the health of our oceans for generations to come.
“We are incredibly proud of this mural and the international collaboration that brought it to life,” said Kaitlyn Davidson, Growth Marketing Manager at the Ocean Institute.
“Environmental challenges know no borders, and neither should the solutions. We are stronger when we work together, and this mural represents a powerful step forward in our shared mission to protect the ocean.”
The Mares Foundation believes that the effects of ocean pollution can be reversed by educating and empowering youth across Latin America. Through initiatives like beach cleanups, ocean literacy programs, urban art, and leadership development, the foundation strives to inspire future generations to take action in protecting marine ecosystems. Their work creates a lasting legacy of ocean stewardship that extends far beyond the foundation itself.
The Mares Foundation, which has led ocean literacy initiatives across Latin America, shares the Ocean Institute’s vision of using education to inspire environmental stewardship. The Foundation supports a range of projects, from beach cleanups to urban art and leadership courses, all aimed at empowering youth to become future stewards of the ocean. By joining forces with the Ocean Institute, the Mares Foundation and NöcHe are demonstrating how international partnerships can create lasting impacts on both a local and global scale.
Cutberto, founder of the Mares Foundation, shared the following: “This mural is a thank you to the Ocean Institute for allowing our volunteers to shadow and learn how to properly educate our youth in Mexico and Latin America about ocean literacy. We believe it is possible to reverse the effects of pollution in our ocean by educating our youth.”
NöcHe
NöcHe has a degree in Communication Sciences and is an urban plastic artist with just over 20 years of experience in cultural management. He currently designs projects in connection with different government systems: municipal, state, and national through programs such as Alas y Raíces Mexico and Crecer con Arte. In particular, it is linked to private companies and civil associations with cultural dissemination projects. He is a co-founder and active member of AO Latinoamérica, a group that promotes ocean education. A student of the Master’s Degree in Social Projects at UABC, he has multiple awards with
recognition such as a distinguished citizen 2019 Ensenada, National SEP 2020 (by book cover illustration), Mares Foundation Award 2022, Arista of the Year 2023 and Cultural Promoter of the Year 2024, among others.
Follow NöcHe on Instagram: @nocheadn