OUR MISSION
Art. Legacy. Education. Conservation.
Where Creativity Meets Conservation
The Addison Rockwell Loomis Foundation was created from the belief that art can connect people to the natural world—and that connection can inspire awareness, education, and action.
Addison Rockwell Loomis—known to his family, friends, colleagues, and generations of people at Marineland simply as “Curly”— was an artist and diver whose life became closely connected to the ocean.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Curly worked as a diver at Marineland of the Pacific on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. His experiences beneath the surface of the Pacific became the inspiration for a collection of underwater paintings that captured the marine world he knew firsthand.
Today, the Foundation is giving Curly’s legacy a new purpose.
Our mission is to use his art and one-of-a-kind story to educate the public about our oceans, marine ecosystems, and the importance of protecting the life within them.
Through exhibitions, educational programs, community outreach, and partnerships, we seek to connect people with the ocean and inspire greater understanding of the need to protect it.
TURNING AWARENESS INTO ACTION
Along the West Coast, organizations and individuals work every day to protect coastal ecosystems, rescue and rehabilitate marine life, educate the public, and return wildlife to its natural environment whenever possible.
The Addison Rockwell Loomis Foundation exists in part to support that work.
Funds raised through the Foundation help support qualified nonprofit organizations involved in ocean conservation, marine life rescue and rehabilitation, environmental education, and the protection of coastal and marine ecosystems.
Rather than duplicate the work already being done, our goal is to bring greater awareness and financial support to the organizations doing this work firsthand.
CONNECTING THE PAST WITH THE FUTURE
Curly’s paintings preserve a unique chapter of Southern California’s coastal history. We believe his legacy can also help shape its future.
His artwork starts conversations. His story creates an opportunity to educate. Together, they provide a way to make a difference.
By bringing together art, history, education, conservation organizations, schools, museums, businesses, and communities, we hope to inspire people of all ages to see the ocean not only as something beautiful, but as a living ecosystem worthy of our understanding and protection.
CARRYING CURLY’S LEGACY FORWARD
What began decades ago with Curly beneath the waters of Marineland of the Pacific now has the opportunity to reach a new generation.
Our vision is to bring his story and artwork to exhibitions, schools, museums, educational programs, and communities, while building partnerships with those who share our commitment to ocean conservation and marine life.
Every exhibition, educational opportunity, partnership, and organization we support helps carry that vision forward.
Preserving Curly’s remarkable artistic legacy while inspiring people to protect the ocean and the life within it for generations to come.
Addison Rockwell Loomis Foundation
Where Creativity Meets Conservation.