CAA ANNOUNCE ARTISTS SELECTED FOR 2023 UNDERWATER MUSEUM OF ART
Walton County, Fla. – Feb. 16 – The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County, South Walton Artificial Reef Association and Visit South Walton are proud to reveal seven new sculptures designs, chosen by jury for permanent exhibition in the fifth installation of the Underwater Museum of Art.
The new installation is the fifth UMA sculpture deployment and includes the following sculptures:
- Quantum Reef by Chris Chubb (Tallahassee, Fla.)
- Space Nest by Frank Henderson (Evanston, Ill.)
- Welcome Home by Zachary Long (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
- Madam Nature by Andrew Luy (Boca Raton, Fla.)
- Cetacean Remains by Mclain (Stone Mountain, Ga.)
- One Tree by Ann Moeller (Huntsville, Ala.)
- Opus by Allison Wickey (Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.)
Named in 2018 by TIME Magazine as one of 100 “World’s Greatest Places,” the UMA is presented as part of CAA’s Art in Public Spaces Program and augments SWARA’s mission of creating marine habitat and expanding fishery populations while providing enhanced creative, cultural, economic and educational opportunities for the benefit, education and enjoyment of residents, students and visitors in Walton County.
UMA sculptures are deployed with SWARA’s existing USACOA and FDEP permitted artificial reef projects that includes nine nearshore reefs located within one nautical mile of the shore in approximately 58 feet of water. The 2023 installation will join the 34 sculptures previously deployed on a one-acre permit patch of seabed off Grayton Beach State Park, further expanding the nation’s first permanent underwater museum.
Deployment of the 2023 UMA installation is slated for Summer. Visit UMAFL.org for more information on timeline and events surrounding UMA’s launch. Project and sculpture sponsorships are available. Please contact Gabby Callaway at gabby@culturalartsalliance.com for sponsorship details.
For photos and videos of previous launches and current underwater art pieces: https://platform.crowdriff.com/m/s-q1xKQvHHFlTF8IWZ
For artist info and a full description of each sculpture, visit: https://www.umafl.org/2023-gallery
Artist renderings can be viewed and downloaded here: https://platform.crowdriff.com/m/s-FquwjDTKQG0A2o0h
Media may use the following contacts for interviews and further information:
Melissa Wheeler, Marketing Director of the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County:
Office: (850) 622-5970
Mobile phone: (850) 319-9743
Email: Melissa@culturalartsalliance.com
Nicole Barefield Everett, Director of Communications at Walton County Tourism Department
Office: (850) 267-1216