Sea Walls: We Were Here, We Will Return

Artist: Evan Esk Williams, Taylor Reinhold

Location: 66th below Hollis

City: Emeryville

Date Painted: 2022

Date Photographed: 2022

Photographer: Trailhead Bob

Description: otter swimming in water with kelp. designs.

Notes: Artist statemnet: Our wall is a hopeful look at two cousins, the Sea Otter and the River Otter, both of which have historical relationships with the Bay Area’s waterways. Depicted is the River Otter, a population that, after years of being absent from the rivers and tributaries that connect to the bay, has independently re-introduced to its riparian habitat. This voluntary reintroduction provides hope for the return of the Sea Otter, who were historically hunted to near-extinction during the fur trade, and kept out of the San Francisco Bay due to a variety of human impacts. The gold calligraphy of the piece reads “We Were Here, We Will Return,” which is a message of hope for the return of the Sea Otter, who scientists now believe could be successfully re-introduced to their historical Bay Area home.