Al Sybrian created the sea lion in 1957 and it is as internationally recognized a symbol for Sausalito, California as the “Little Mermaid” in Copenhagen, Denmark 

Al was a creative, soulful, reflective person who recorded his thoughts about himself, life, art and relationships in an insightful, profound and interesting manner.  He exchanged extensive correspondence with his myriad of friends over the decades and meticulously preserved his writings, sketches and photographs in journals. 

George Hoffman, in his book “Sausalito-Sausalito” tells a story about Al and the sea lion “Al was well known in Sausalito for his drawings, stone walls, drinking and conversation.  He was good at all and often excelled in the latter two.  He lived in a small house beneath the old Hearst wall and he could see sea lions on the rocks not a hundred feet away. 

He sketched them endlessly and one day in 1957 he decided to make a sculpture of a sea lion, Al had no money for materials so he spoke to a neighbor who spoke to the other neighbors who then donated money to make the sculpture, within three months the project was completed.   For eight years the sea lion sat giving joy to viewers, thousands of pictures were taken by tourists and townspeople and her grace and silence became a trademark.

After eight years the sea took its toll, the concrete cracked and pieces were falling off.   Al looked at the sea lion one day and announced he was going to destroy it.  Enid Foster, the grand dame, of Sausalito artists heard about it and knew Al would do it.  She began a campaign to fund casting the sea lion in bronze.  The city of Sausalito contributed a little money and other donations trickled in, then  the Sausalito Foundation offered to fund casting the sculpture in bronze and the sea lion that now sits in the bay was produced”

We intend to create a photographic book that will include his sculptures, drawings, writing and stories about Al and his friends at a time of artistic renaissance in Sausalito and San Francisco.

 If you are interested in contributing to the project click the below link to Al Sybrian Website