The Otter's Picnic is part of the "Secret's of the Salish Sea" assemblage painting collection, but has developed into its own special story.
The original otters were; Alonso, Shepherd, Gilligan, Rowen, Sabrina, Ariel, Albertina, Wini, Theodora, and twins Nash and dash. They were later joined by siblings Amelia and Frederick.
Keep scrolling to meet each otter and learn their personal story (so far).
Adventures in Otter Space
The otters made the big jump from canvas to concrete! Their public debut was on Front Street in downtown Nanaimo, as part of a city sponsored mural festival put on by Hub City Walls.
Sabrina, Ariel, Gilligan, Theodora, and Albertina are featured in the mural, you can read more about each otter below!
Assemblage Painting Collection
Each painting is a 3 dimensional piece allowing the otter's to break out of their frames. Each painting includes a piece of the otter's story, printed and glued into the back of their cradle panel (read all of the stories below). The panels range in size, most are 4"x6" or 5"x7".
Meet the Otters!
Shepherd
Shepherd likes to climb rocks and splash his friends. The otters told Shepherd that he was supposed to be inside the frame, but Shepherd insisted that the view was better up on the top.
Shepherd is an excellent climber. He and Alonso have formed a daring circus routine that they perform at picnics for their friends.
Shepherd invented a new acrobatic move he calls “The Splish Splash Alley Oop”, it involves tossing Alonso into the air, but Alonso doesn’t know that yet.
Shepherd and Alonso have been working on their daring circus routines all year. They saved all of their money to attend the Cephalopod’s Circus, and when the show was done, they stayed behind to ask to join the fun.
Alonso
Alonso helps Theodora perfect her high five technique.
Alonso dreams of swimming away to join the circus. He works on his acrobatics every night before bed.
Alonso dreams of being an acrobat. He and Shepherd have formed a daring circus routine that they perform at picnics for their friends.
Shepherd and Alonso have been working on their daring circus routines all year. They saved all of their money to attend the Cephalopod’s Circus, and when the show was done, they stayed behind to ask to join the fun.
Alonso is excited to learn the secrets of making cotton candy at his new job. He hopes there is an important tasting step.
Amelia
Amelia enjoys reading and writing love letters, her favourite is one her mother wrote to her father six years ago.
Amelia once successfully helped her brother Frederick impress his crush with a well worded love letter.
Amelia is in love. No one but her brother Frederick knows with whom, but she swears that she’ll tell her crush one day.
Amelia is finally ready to tell her crush that she likes her. She picked as many flowers as she could carry and brought them to Sabrina’s house this morning.
Frederick
Frederick enjoys proofreading all of his sister Amelia’s letters.
Frederick is the keeper of secrets. (He knows who Amelia’s crush is and where Gilligan hides his drinking straws. The one thing he can’t figure out is the secret ingredient in Albertina’s lemon tarts!)
Frederick dreams of being a botanist one day. He spends his free time examining local plant life in his journal.
When Amelia helped him impress his crush, Frederick repaid her by helping her find the very best flowers to bring to her own crush.
Gilligan
Gilligan is the best volleyball player around the island.
Gilligan has an extensive collection of drinking straws.
Gilligan’s ‘people stuff’ collection has expanded from drinking straws to include spoons and rubber bands. He once found one of those little scoopers made especially for kiwis.
Gilligan has added three mismatched pairs of sneakers to his ‘people stuff’ collection. He uses one biggest one to hold his extensive collection of drinking straws.
Gilligan is part of the Otter's Mural. He surveys Front Street, looking for things to add to his 'people stuff' collection.
Theodora
Theodora is a champion of motivation and gives excellent high fives to anyone who needs them.
Theodora gives Alonso a big pep talk before all of his circus practices.
Theodora is part of the Otter's Mural. She surveys Front Street, looking for people in need of a solid high five.
Albertina
Albertina is afraid of the dark. Her bioluminescent friends make sure she never feels alone.
Albertina makes the best lemon tarts you’ve ever tasted. The secret ingredient is a secret and she won’t tell you, so don’t ask.
Albertina is part of the Otter's Mural. She surveys Front Street, making silly faces at the people who walk by. (Don't worry about Albertina's fear of the dark, we added glow in the dark stars to the mural for her.)
Rowen
Rowen was voted ‘Most Likely to Succeed’ by his classmates. He hasn’t yet decided what he wants to do with his life, but he’s enjoying the ride.
Rowen once saw a school of trout spook an orca.
Wini
Wini is a little shy at first, but blossoms when you talk to her about fish, coral gardens, and biomechanical engineering.
Ariel
Ariel has an excellent singing voice and likes to pretend she has synchronized backup dancers and professional stage lighting.
Ariel is part of the Otter's Mural. She surveys Front Street, putting on impromptu concerts for anyone who will stop and listen.
Sabrina
Sabrina is making kelp bracelets for all of her friends. They’re a surprise, so don’t tell anyone.
Sabrina is part of the Otter's Mural. She surveys Front Street, complimenting anyone who walks by wearing her favourite colour.
Nash and Dash
Twins Nash & Dash are trouble with a capital T.
Twins Nash & Dash are hide and seek champions.
