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Eureka muralist Blake Reagan, whose hyper-vivid work has proliferated across local buildings in recent years, is currently painting his latest creation, titled “Eureka is Otter Space.”

The project is part of the “You Found It! Festival,” which is rolling in to Eureka’s state-designated Cultural Arts District this spring, bringing a host of free events to the city. 

A tiny version of the full image taped to the scissor lift Reagan’s using to reach up high.

The mural, which is being applied to the eastern wall of Game On Laser Tag and More (formerly HealthSport), features a pair of river otters drifting in zero gravity amid ocean life as a full moon hovers in the background.

North American river otters can often be spotted in Humboldt Bay, where they are sometimes misidentified as harbor seals.

“We used to have sea otters [in Humboldt Bay], but they were hunted for their really dense fur and so we don’t have sea otters here anymore,” Reagan said when we caught up with him this morning. “Hopefully [this mural] brings up a discussion about reintroducing them to Humboldt Bay, and that will help re-establish our kelp beds.”

Kelp will feature in the finished version of “Otter Space,” which measures 18 feet tall by 44 feet long.

The You Found It! Festival is produced by the Eureka Cultural Arts District, a partnership of Wiyot Tribe, the Ink People Center for Arts & Culture, the City of Eureka and Eureka Main Street. All events are free and open to the community. 

Reagan plans to bring in a DJ for the official unveiling of his mural, which is scheduled for June 12 from 5 - 8 p.m. You can find information about festival events by clicking here.