The Newest Museum Under the Sea
By: Hope Wilkos, Writer
New York City is renowned for its abundance of mesmerizing museums. Statistics show that there are close to 100 in total. Whatever your interest, whether it be art, history, fashion or architecture, any of these topics can be found within a NY museum on a given block within the city as you walk over the course of your day.
On the other hand, the Southern part of the country is known for its diverse diving conditions and beautiful blue seas. Therefore, it would make sense to offer visitors the opportunity to explore their newest museum located in the Gulf of Mexico. The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County, found on the western side of Florida near the Panhandle, is very proud to announce the opening of North America’s first underwater permanent sculpture exhibit, known as the Underwater Museum of Art or UMA.
Nestled within Grayton Beach State Park in approximately 50-60 feet of water and just a slight .7mile from the shoreline, this museum promises some breathtaking scenery in the days, months, years to come. The museum marked its official opening the week of June 25, 2018 with seven inaugural sculptures deployed down on the sea’s floor, within the Gulf’s specific coordinates, ranging from an oversized metal pineapple to a slightly abstract octopus and a homage to undersea conservationist, scientist and photographer, Jacques Cousteau’s Aqua Lung. Here is a listing of all the sculptures that can be seen during your visit this year, submitted by inspired artists:
Divers and snorkelers are welcome to explore what awaits in this underwater museum. On a normal day, the sea floor of the Gulf in thisparticular location is quite barren, not having much in the way of reefs and marine life. That is all set to change with the arrival of these vast sculptures and the first-ever museum of its kind to the county. Coral growth will begin to develop and flourish, attracting schools of fish and various kinds of marine life over time. An entire artificial reef will be the result, a most advantageous benefit to the aquatic environment in northwestern Florida.
For this project, the Cultural Arts Alliance partnered with Visit South Walton and the South Walton Artificial Reef Association, garnering support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Alys Foundation and Visit Florida.
SWARA Board President, Andy McAlexander, dove the museum right after the sculptures landed on the gulf floor and said, “The intent of the project was proven within an hour of deployment when we could see schools of bait fish swarming the structures, completely validating the entire effort. I have never been prouder to have had the privilege to work with such talented and visionary people in my life. This project has changed my perspective towards art.”
CAA Executive Director, Jennifer Steele, said, “After nearly two years of planning and fundraising, it was a surreal hour watching the artwork being lowered into the Gulf of Mexico. We have been encouraged by the excitement from and support by our local community and the national and international interest it has received.”
This museum is the first of its kind presented by the Cultural Arts Alliance Art in Public Spaces Program. Its main mission is to create marine habitat and expand the local fishery population. In addition, the museum will provide enhanced creative, cultural, economic and educational opportunities for not only those that reside in South Walton Beach, Florida, but, for students and visitors to the area as well.
Interested artists with a sense of creativity and a vivid imagination will be able to submit their applications to be considered for some of the installations that the museum will be offering in 2019. The typical canvas will be unique to the sea, being able to survive an undersea environment while promoting the healthy propagation of a reef and its new inhabitants. The applications can be found at ‘Call To Artists’ on the museum’s website.
So grab your gear, your snorkel, your fins and get going to be one of the first hundred visitors to this natural wonder of the sea, featuring art to appeal to your senses. The only fee is the entry charge to get into Grayton Beach State Park, no additional charge to see the museum. All fees can be found at the following link: Grayton Beach State Park.
Follow the Underwater Museum on Facebook, Instagram and subscribe to them on You Tube.Learn more about the seven artists at the Alliance website. It is summertime and it is really heating up so there is no better place to enjoy some cool viewing than the Underwater Museum of Art!
Photo Credit: Underwater Museum of Art Facebook page
