Giant Pacific Octopus Tank Design

 

Since the unveiling of the octopus tank at the Belle Isle Aquarium is now official, I can now show the design that I did for it over a year and a half ago. After I submitted my design, it was sent off to a company in Arizona who made it and installed it. It then took awhile to procure the octopus and get it acclimated. I was able to see the cephalopod a few weeks ago and have been itching to share the news. I have yet to see the view of the tank from the front, as I have only seen it from above, behind the scenes, but it even has the same color scheme. I'll have pics soon, for sure!

Yellow Perch Sketch, Part 2

 

5x8

ink in sketchbook

Today's yellow perch sketch theme for #SundayFishSketch is to honor Dr. Katie O'Reilly's recent defense thesis. As it so happens, today I was down at the Belle Isle Aquarium doing some volunteer work and snapped a pic of their yellow perches and came home and sketched one of them. Good timing!

Belle Isle Aquarium Coming Soon!

 

Recently, the Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit asked me to come up with a sign to let visitors know that a variety of tanks in the alcove that are under construction will soon have new residents. This was a challenge with a broken wrist, but I was determined, so I laid the composition out with my left hand and as each day went by I was able to do more and more with my right hand and it became easier, as well. A fun side project, for sure.

The Belle Isle Aquarium Is Open!

 

The Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit has officially reopened as of today. All Covid restrictions have been lifted and will return to the Before Times schedule of Friday through Sunday. 

Dr. Paul Shuert and staff have been holding down the fort during lockdown and taking good care of all the residents, including many new ones. He has also helped guide the tankscapers in their work to spruce up the old tanks and create some new ones.

This cartoon sprang from a conversation with an aquarium alum about how the aquarium needs a tank with one of those cheesy Creature from the Black Lagoon thingies from home fish tanks. And a couple other film nods in there, as well. 

Koi Festival Logo

Well, if there was going to be a Koi Festival at the Belle Isle Aquarium this year, this would have been the logo used for letterheads, buttons, etc. It's basically the same design from last year, but I tweaked it a little by turning the koi to better accommodate the 'aquarium' wording. Plus, I think the fish look a bit better, design-wise. There will be a koi festival to be held in Japan during the month of May, so there's that going on.

Belle Isle Aquarium-Closed!

The Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit (as well as all other public buildings on the island) has decided to close its doors for a bit to fight the spread of the Covid-19 virus, but don't worry, the staff and fish are on vigilant duty to fight this. The pufferfish (as documented here) has its very own Hazmat suit and all the other fish are washing their fins in earnest. The only problem is all of the suds, you know with that much water and stuff... 

So, with some precautions the doors will reopen soon, I'm sure.

Belle Isle Aquarium 'Tankscaper' Pin

The Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit has a pretty good tankscaping team and who I'd like to think of as the chief (chef) member of that team asked me to help out with a pin design that he could give to each of the members as a way of showing his appreciation. If you ever get the chance, head on down to Belle Isle and see the work that they have done!

I had come up with a few designs, but this one with the coelacanth kept rising to the surface. The aquarium is the oldest one in the US, so why not an old fish to go along for the ride? The top part is keeping with the glass tile of the interior ceiling and the bottom is similar to the bottom walls and dividing wall. The jigsaw puzzle shape is a nod to the team's ability to put together the different pieces that go into making the scenery of each tank display. 

The pins were given to each team member yesterday at a party and hopefully, they were well received.

Belle Isle Koi Festival

Tomorrow, if you find yourself on Belle Isle, stop on by the Conservatory and Aquarium for the Annual Koi Festival.  The festival has taken place of the annual Koi Transfer that brought the koi fish out from their basement winter dwelling and back out in the pond for the summer. Since the koi now reside outdoors year-round a celebration of the koi and Japanese culture has taken its place. 

The above design by yours truly is being used for buttons to be given out, probably for a small donation. 

In some small secret circles, this event might be known as the Corey Festival. You can ask around, but it might be denied...   

Shiver On The River 2019

I'm a little late in the day for this post, but it's still in time. If you are son inclined, head on down/over/up to Belle Isle (you know the one, that big island in the middle of the Detroit River) for the Shiver on the River event that is held island wide every first Saturday of February. There will be things to do at most of the buildings on the island, including the aquarium. I will be helping out with the marshmallow station out front with some fun volunteers. So, if you like fish and marshmallows, stop on by.  

Belle Isle Aquarium Holiday Stroll

Belle Isle's Holiday Stroll will take place tomorrow evening from 5-9. Stop on by the aquarium. The DIA and Pewabic Pottery will be on hand and there will be marshmallows to singe out front. That's where you can find me, helping to man the fire pits. Someone thought that having me around goo and fire would be a smart thing...

Shiver On The River 2018

If you are in the Detroit area tomorrow and looking for something to do, head on over to Belle Isle for this year's Shiver on the River event. There will be many things to do across the whole island, including the aquarium, where I will be giving a hand at the fire pit/marshmallow station. 

For my sake, I hope that it isn't so cold that there will be an iceberg attached to the snapping turtle...

...because there might be one attached to me, as well.

Sturgeon Floor Decal

Last night at the Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit was a fundraiser event to help raise money to maintain the new sturgeon exhibit. It was a great success, a sold out event. On the floor are decals of the above image that I drew up and Linville Design Studio printed up. These sturgeon decals will lead one right to the tank that they currently abode in. As they get bigger, they will be moved to a larger tank (the fish, not the decals). There is also an art exhibit (Ann Arbor artist Dominique Chastenet de Gery is one of the featured artists) that will be on display at the aquarium for the next three months that is all sturgeon related. So, check it out and the sturgeon will lead there!

Aquarium Seahorse Design

These past few weeks I have been part of a team creating a holiday decoration that will be placed in front of the Belle Isle Aquarium, hopefully by next week. I inadvertently left off the back fin thingie that is usually a part of a seahorse's bodily function. The way that the decoration will be put together, it shouldn't be a problem to add that in there. The seahorses will be pulling a Santa seashell sleigh and  will have strings of lights around their shapes. 

Urgin' For Sturgeon Event

This is the save the date promo for an event at the Belle Isle Aquarium in November to raise funds to open the sturgeon exhibit. The night will also kick off an art exhibit that was part of a national show that helped raise awareness to sturgeon conservation. There are talks of including local artists for this, so stay tuned. Meanwhile, here is a link to event page on Facebook.

Sturgeon art by yours truly and the design and text are by Chris Meister.

Shiver On The River 2017

The annual Shiver On The River event held on Belle Isle will be tomorrow (the 4th) from 10-4. I do believe that most of the buildings will be open and having fun things to do and see, including the aquarium, where you can see the latest additions, red bellied piranhas. 

Fish Cartoon

This here is a cartoon that I did last fall for a fundraiser to acquire funds to get an air compressor for the Belle Isle Aquarium. At least, that is what I think it was for. Hopefully, it wasn't to fund anything illicit. 

Koi Transfer Spring 2016

Tomorrow, May 7 starting at 10am will be the biannual koi transfer at the Belle Isle Aquarium on Belle Isle in the Detroit River. The process involves taking the koi from the basement of the aquarium where they spend their winters and bring them out to the pond in between the aquarium and conservatory where they will spend their summer dodging heron bites. Bring a bucket and you can help bring a koi fish to the pond. there will be plenty of volunteers and staff on hand to help you with where you need to be.

Sadly, I won't be involved again this year because of Free Comic Book Day, but will be there in spirit. My undersea spirit animal is probably more akin to an octopus than a koi, but still......

Shiver On The River 2016

This Saturday is the annual Shiver On The River event on Belle Isle in Detroit. All sorts of events are planned and most or all of the buildings will be open, including the aquarium. Festivities start at 10am.

The Belle Isle Aquarium Weathervane

After a little more than a year since winning the design competition for the aquarium weathervane, it is finally sitting atop its new home. I have been fortunate enough to have been a part of each step from conception to installation and will do weekly posts about the entire process, but for now I'd like to thank some people. Although, most of the work was done by myself and Giorgio Gikas, there were a lot of people who helped out along the way (even if their contribution was brief, it still helped to achieve the goal). This was truly a team effort. I know that I will probably forget someone, so if you read this post and felt you helped in some way, give me a holler and I'll add you to the list.

First and foremost, thanks need to be said to Dick Rassel and the law firm of Butzel Long. Butyl Long has a connection with the aquarium that goes back 100 years, I believe, and to celebrate their longevity and their connection with the fishes they put up the money for the design contest. They started it all. Dick seems like a good guy and I hope he is happy with the final product.

Next, the Belle Isle Conservancy and the chair people of the Belle Isle Aquarium, which include Michelle Hodges, Vance Patrick, Jennifer Boardman, Katy Wyerman, and Chris Meister. Some volunteers and staff at the aquarium should be thanked for their support and enthusiasm: Tom Drummy, Carol White, Richard Kik, John MacKenzie, Joe Guibourg, Steven Macklay, Steve Huer and many more!

At Venus Bronze Works where the work was done, my thanks to Giorgio Gikas, Leslie Cislo, James Viste, Cory, Josh Martin, Andre, Zach and Nario.

There were some local businesses who supplied materials for the work or did some actual work for us and all of them were super helpful and great to deal with. The staff at Federal Pipe, the guys at Metric Tool, Alro Steel, J&R Sheet Metal...

Brad Shimko and the rest of the guys from the Detroit Fire Department for helping get this sucker to the roof.

The Macomb Daily, WJR and ClickonDetroit for the interviews and coverage.

My wife, Tina, for putting up with me and being supportive during the whole process.

Thanks to all who appreciate such things and for being so patient while this thing was being built.

Belle Isle Aquarium Koi Transfer 2015

Tomorrow, starting at 10am is the spring koi transfer on Belle Isle to bring all the koi fish out of the basement winter holding tanks outside to the pond. Bring the kids and the grandparents and a bucket, so you can help bring a koi outside. There will be hot dogs, chips and pop afterwards.

Unfortunately, I won't be in on the fun as I will be at Comic and More for Free Comic Book Day, but this is a fun time and you should go!

You can also get a colored version of the above cartoon as a button tomorrow at the aquarium.