Tce yac, a newly created mosaic otter, was celebrated with a party on World Otter Day (Wednesday, May 31st) and installed into the visitor center at Humboldt Redwoods State Park near Weott. The otter, covered with over 40 mosaic images of flora and fauna found in southern Humboldt parks, was created as gift for the […]
Jeff Black
North Coast Otters Art Initiative Raises $300,000
The North Coast Otter Art initiative, which saw more than 100 otter sculptures scattered throughout five North Coast counties, has raised $300,000 that will support continued otter research and student internships at Humboldt State University. The initiative led by wildlife professor Jeff Black began in 2019 with the hopes of launching the initiative in 2020, […]
North Coast Otter Sculpture Auction and Preview
Did you get a chance to hunt for any of the 108 North Coast Otter Art Initiative otter sculptures throughout Humboldt, Del Norte, Mendocino, Trinity and Siskiyou counties this summer? If not, no sweat! All of the otter sculptures will be on preview this Friday from noon to 7 p.m. at the Humboldt Bay Aquatic […]
Time to Start Looking for Otter Sculptures!
The long-awaited North Coast Otters Public Art Initiative’s treasure hunt of 108 otter sculptures painted by local artists spread throughout five North Coast counties has finally begun and will continue through September. The initiative’s creator and Humboldt State University wildlife professor Jeff Black says he’s really excited about finally getting the otter sculptures out. “I’ve been […]
Otter Watch Out (Spoiler Alert: Cute Video)
Once COVID-19 closed down the Humboldt State University campus, professor Jeff Black realized he wouldn’t be walking to campus for his wildlife lectures, so he decided to get his daily exercise by going to the Arcata Marsh, while also keeping an eye out for otters. And, he’s asking others to do the same. Spearheaded by […]
North Coast Otter Public Arts Initiative Giving Virtual Sneak Peek
On World Otter Day, May 27, the North Coast Otters Public Arts Initiative will preview the more than 100 otter sculptures that were set to make an appearance this summer in a massive scavenger hunt throughout Humboldt County and beyond. The public art initiative is inviting people to a “virtual sneak peek” of the otters […]
The Otters are Coming! The Otters are Coming!
A shipment of 100 otter sculptures is heading toward the North Coast, according to Jeff Black, who created the North Coast Otter Public Arts Initiative. All the way from Jolly Roger Sculptures in the Philippines, the arrival of the 3-foot-tall sculptures standing ready for an artist’s touch will kick off a public art initiative scheduled […]
‘An Otter Idea’
After a long hike in England’s Dartmoor National Park, Jeff Black and his wife stopped at Wayside Cafe. As they were sitting, drinking tea, they noticed scores of people coming in and out to take selfies with an otter sculpture. Out of curiosity, they approached the sculpture and learned there were 99 others scattered throughout […]
You Otter be a Citizen Scientist
One doesn’t have to go far to see local river otters in the wild. Just take a walk out on the Trinidad pier and you’re likely to see one swimming in the harbor. But the best time is when local sport fishermen return to the floating dock below the pier to clean their catches. On […]
