Celebrating La Jolla Wildlife Through Art, Rescue & Conservation

Jewels of the Cove: The Art & Magic of La Jolla’s Wildlife

Celebrating La Jolla Wildlife Through Art, Rescue & Conservation

On October 2, 2026, Wildlife Jewels presented Jewels of the Cove: The Art & Magic of La Jolla’s Wildlife, a special evening celebrating the extraordinary wildlife of La Jolla through art, photography, wildlife rescue stories, music, and conservation.

Held at historic Brockton Villa, overlooking beautiful La Jolla Cove, the event was part of the La Jolla First Friday Art Walk and brought the community together to discover some of the remarkable animals who share this iconic coastline with us.

The Wildlife Behind the Art

The evening featured original artwork and wildlife photography from the Wildlife Jewels Collections, created by Wildlife Jewels founder and artist Dr. Azi Sharif.

But these works represent much more than wildlife subjects.

Many are inspired by individual animals Wildlife Jewels has encountered while monitoring La Jolla’s coastline—from Western Gulls and Brandt’s Cormorants to Brown Pelicans, harbor seals, and California sea lions.

Through hundreds of hours in the field, we have had the privilege of observing their lives, documenting their challenges, watching new generations arrive, and helping wildlife in distress.

Jewels of the Cove brings their individual stories to life through the arts.

From Wildlife Art to Wildlife Rescue

La Jolla is home to an extraordinary diversity of coastal wildlife, but these animals also face significant human-caused threats.

Fishing line and hook entanglements, wildlife disturbance, ingestion of fishing tackle, injuries, and other hazards can have devastating consequences for seabirds and other wildlife.

Through the Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew, our team searches for wildlife in distress, documents animals needing assistance, coordinates response, and helps rescue and transport migratory birds in need of professional veterinary or rehabilitation care.

The animals and stories represented through Jewels of the Cove help connect this field work with the arts—giving people an opportunity to see wildlife not simply as species, but as individual lives worth knowing and protecting.

Celebrating the Magic of La Jolla Cove

Throughout the evening, guests explored wildlife art and photography, discovered stories from Wildlife Jewels’ field and rescue work, and celebrated the beauty and resilience of La Jolla’s wildlife.

Art offers a unique way to build a connection between people and the animals with whom we share our coast.

By bringing together art, science, wildlife rescue, education, and conservation, Wildlife Jewels hopes to inspire greater appreciation for living wildlife—and meaningful action to protect them.

Thank You to Our La Jolla Community

A very special thank you to Brockton Villa for their wonderful hospitality, delicious appetizers, and support of our work for wildlife.

Thank you to The Ocean Alchemist for the beautiful music and to the La Jolla Village Merchants Association for bringing our community together through the La Jolla First Friday Art Walk.

Most importantly, thank you to everyone who joined Wildlife Jewels for Jewels of the Cove and supported our wildlife rescue work.

Together, we can help protect the remarkable animals who make La Jolla one of California’s most extraordinary places for wildlife.

Discover More

Explore the Wildlife Jewels Collections
Discover wildlife-inspired fine art and photography celebrating the beauty and individuality of wildlife.

Wildlife Jewels Rescue
Learn about our wildlife rescue work and how we help birds and other wildlife in distress.

Report Wildlife in Distress
If you encounter injured, entangled, or distressed wildlife, learn how to report the animal safely to Wildlife Jewels.

Support Wildlife Rescue
Help Wildlife Jewels continue searching for, responding to, and helping wildlife in need along our coast.

Art by Dr. Azi Sharif | Wildlife Jewels Collections
Presented by Wildlife Jewels®