SLC.gov

Oct. 1, 2026

Salt Lake City’s most famous landlocked whale has a new fit, and now it’s the neighborhood’s turn to strut its most sea-worthy look for the Whale Fest costume contest and whale call contest on Saturday, Oct. 3.

“Open Your Eyes,” the new mural by Salt Lake County artist Jiyoun Lee-Lodge painted on Stephen Kesler’s sculpture “Out of the Blue,” (aka the 9th and 9th whale) is now complete.  

Salt Lake City, the 9th & 9th Business District and the Salt Lake City Arts Council invite the community to Whale Fest to mark the occasion. The celebration will take place on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 2 to 7 p.m. at the roundabout at 900 South and 1100 East.  

“This beloved piece of public art has inspired community events, marathons, and even a baby lookalike,” said Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “And if the pattern persists, it may even signal a significant snow season ahead. We can’t wait to celebrate its new chapter with the Salt Lakers who welcomed it into their neighborhood.” 

Inspired by the Great Salt Lake, Utah’s open skies, and the movement of water, “Open Your Eyes” wraps the whale in gradients of pink and blue, flowing wave patterns, and playful dots of color. The 360-degree design shifts depending on where you stand. 

“Who were we before the whale? The mark of great public art is that it can spark a conversation, create a connection, and sometimes, in the case of the whale, even inspire a sense of devotion,” said Council Chair Erika Carlsen. “The whale has become part of the identity of 9th & 9th, and this new mural reminds us to make room for imagination, connection, and joy.” 

Lee-Lodge was selected through a public call open to artists based in Salt Lake County. Before the call went out, more than 1,700 residents shared what the public art installation meant to them through “What’s Next for the Whale?” on shapeSLC, the City’s public participation platform. This community input was shared with applicants who used it to inform their proposals. From 35 applications, four finalists presented designs to the Salt Lake Art Design Board and neighborhood stakeholders, who unanimously chose Lee-Lodge’s concept. She painted the mural on site from late August through September.

“As I painted the last several weeks, my spirits have been high thanks to the cheers and support of the 9th & 9th neighbors,” Lee-Lodge said. “‘Open Your Eyes’ is a call to embrace difference, invite change, and to celebrate everyone that makes our unexpected city so special.”

“Out of the Blue” was installed in 2022. Its first mural, “Point of Reference” by Mike Murdock, captured the neighborhood’s sunrises and sunsets. The City’s Public Art Program plans to refresh the sculpture’s mural every 3 to 5 years.

At Whale Fest on Saturday, Oct. 3, opening remarks begin at 2:15 p.m. with Mayor Erin Mendenhall, followed by District 5 Council Member Erika Carlsen, and Jiyoun Lee-Lodge.

The City will then invite the public to participate in a costume contest at 2:30 p.m., a whale call contest at 3 p.m., and a parade at 3:30 p.m. The afternoon will also include hands-on crafts, local vendors, live music, and food trucks.

900 South between McClelland Street (including the roundabout) will be closed to vehicles from noon to 8 p.m. on Oct. 3.

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About the Salt Lake City Arts Council  

The Salt Lake City Arts Council promotes, presents, and supports artists, arts organizations, and arts activities to further the development of the arts community and to benefit the public by expanding awareness, access, and participation. Through exhibitions, performances, public art, and community programs, the Arts Council works to ensure that the arts are accessible to all residents of Salt Lake City.  For more information, please visit saltlakearts.org.