Whalemina of the Rockaways will likely return better than ever

Image source: NYDN – Whalemina in better days

Whalemina, a large fiberglass whale sculpture, was one of the victims of Hurrican Sandy. She sat for years near the boardwalk and Beach 94th St. Local activist Eddy Pastore called her the Rockaways “mascot” who guarded the shorefront. But Sandy was too much for her and she was destroyed. However, the original artist wants to bring her back.

She originally was a grey fiberglass sculpture – called “Jonah’s Whale” at the time – that lived at the Central Park Children’s Zoo from 1961-1995. After that in the 90s, the late Sal Arena learned that as part of a Zoo makeover the whale was going to be removed. He asked that it be sent to the Rockaways, so the NY Parks Department worked with the Rockaway Beach Civic Association and Community Board 14, and the whale found its new home along the boardwalk after that.

But it was artist Geoff Rawling who really transformed her into something magical. Starting in 2001, he worked for years decorating the sculpture with tiles, ceramic, and stained glass. A donation from Arverne by the Sea helped make the renovation possible.

Rawling has told the children that “she went back out to sea,” perhaps to help allay yet another fear children in the area are likely experiencing. He would like to rebuild her, and is thinking ahead, “I would like to make her in a more mobile, lightweight fashion so we could move her if another storm comes.”

Local neighbor Michael Benedetto, who runs the artist community Projects of Peace, said he hopes to raise both money and awareness for a new Whalemina, “I think it will kind of help Rockaway get back to normal. We would want to dedicate it to the first responders and volunteers who were there for everyone in the community.”

Rockaway residents missing their boardwalk and its beloved sentinel Whalemina; artist wants to recreate the icon [NYDN]
Whalemina Sculpture [Community Walk]
Hurricane Sandy utterly destroyed the Rockaway boardwalk [QNYC]