Local artist Andy Saczynski recently completed the installation of a huge Rice's Whale art display at North Beach Social in South Walton's Santa Rosa Beach. And we mean huge—the whale measures 30 feet wide, 12 feet tall, and about 800 pounds. The 55 hours it took for Saczynski to complete his latest masterpiece was definitely worth it. The whale is incredible!

Though the idea for this particular piece began to take shape in early 2021, Saczynski has had a desire to create a life-size whale art installation for a long time now. After a conversation with Dan Tinghitella, CEO of Jim Shirley Enterprises, and then with Jim Shirley himself, the wheels began turning for the creation of this project. Shirley was excited about Saczynski’s idea and was thrilled to see it come to life. They ultimately decided that the piece would be installed at North Beach Social. As an open-air beach bar overlooking the Choctawhatchee Bay, this location was perfect for a unique ocean-inspired art display. Its large, white exterior provided an excellent base for such a large-scale project.

A little while later, Saczynski learned about Rice’s whales, an endangered whale species located in the Gulf of Mexico. Historically, their distribution may have comprised the northern and southern Gulf; however, distribution appears to be more limited to the northeast along the continental shelf for the last couple of decades. Based on 2017-2018 surveys, it is estimated that approximately Rice’s whales are left throughout the Gulf.

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Upon learning about this unique whale that calls the Gulf home, Saczynski decided to honor Rice’s whale with this new art installation. In the end, the piece was loosely based on Rice’s whales combined with characteristics of other Gulf Coast whales.

The art piece was, of course, designed and created in Saczynski’s signature style. Saczynski focuses on mixed media assemblage art that incorporates a variety of repurposed materials, like reclaimed wood, house paint, recycled instruments, and other discarded objects. The whale was made from reclaimed wood and then painted following installation. When looking closely at the piece, you will see a variety of visual elements, including fish, flowers, waves, and guitars. The guitars were a nod to the significance of music on the Gulf and the fact that North Beach Social frequently has live music for entertainment.

Installation took several days to complete. After all, installing 800 pounds of materials is no easy feat!
Installation began February 8 with Saczysnki delivering cut wood pieces to North Beach Social and laying them out to reveal its final shape. The next couple of days included hanging each of the pieces, connecting them, and building multiple layers along the way. There was very little waste for such a large-scale project, fitting right into Saczynski’s purposeful intention in the creation process. The fifth day was spent painting, and by February 14, only touch-ups and sealing were left.

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The final product is an incredible, life-size whale that encompasses a large part of two walls of North Beach Social. It certainly adds to the beachy atmosphere and coastal vibe of the joint. But you don’t even have to visit to catch a glimpse of the magnificent piece—you can see the piece from the Clyde B. Wells bridge. If you want to see up close and personal, though, be sure to visit North Beach Social. The details are even better in person!