<strong>Incredible installation:</strong> America's first underwater museum has now opened. This incredible installation is located off the coast of Grayton Beach State Park in South Walton, Florida.
Incredible installation: America's first underwater museum has now opened. This incredible installation is located off the coast of Grayton Beach State Park in South Walton, Florida.
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<strong>Striking sculptures</strong>: The exhibition's seven sculptures include this giant skull by artist Vince Tatum. A one-acre patch of the seabed off Grayton Beach State Park has been devoted to the underwater presentation.
Striking sculptures: The exhibition's seven sculptures include this giant skull by artist Vince Tatum. A one-acre patch of the seabed off Grayton Beach State Park has been devoted to the underwater presentation.
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<strong>From dream to reality: </strong>The idea was the brainchild of Allison Wickey, now Cultural Arts Alliance Board President, when she was a board member. Wickey knew it was a pipe dream and is thrilled it's become a reality. She also contributed a sculpture, pictured, for the exhibit.
From dream to reality: The idea was the brainchild of Allison Wickey, now Cultural Arts Alliance Board President, when she was a board member. Wickey knew it was a pipe dream and is thrilled it's become a reality. She also contributed a sculpture, pictured, for the exhibit.
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<strong>Unexpected art: </strong>Wickey was inspired by watching Andy McAlexander of the South Walton Artificial Reef Association Board at work. "[I] just thought, why couldn't we make it an art exhibit?" Wickey tells CNN Travel.
Unexpected art: Wickey was inspired by watching Andy McAlexander of the South Walton Artificial Reef Association Board at work. "[I] just thought, why couldn't we make it an art exhibit?" Wickey tells CNN Travel.
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<strong>Group effort:</strong> The new Underwater Museum of Art (UMA) is produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA)'s Art In Public Spaces Program and in collaboration with the South Walton Artificial Reef Association.
Group effort: The new Underwater Museum of Art (UMA) is produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA)'s Art In Public Spaces Program and in collaboration with the South Walton Artificial Reef Association.
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<strong>Annual additions:</strong> The sculptures were lifted into the ocean for the purposes of exhibition. The organizers want the UMA to become home to marine wildlife and not to disrupt the space.
Annual additions: The sculptures were lifted into the ocean for the purposes of exhibition. The organizers want the UMA to become home to marine wildlife and not to disrupt the space.
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<strong>Collaborative effort</strong>: "We gave them the perimeters for what's permissible, material-wise, size-wise for the sculptors to design and create their reefs so they would be in compliance with the permits," Andy McAlexander, South Walton Artificial Reef Association Board President tells CNN Travel. "And then we were responsible of the deployment of the sculptures that were selected."
Collaborative effort: "We gave them the perimeters for what's permissible, material-wise, size-wise for the sculptors to design and create their reefs so they would be in compliance with the permits," Andy McAlexander, South Walton Artificial Reef Association Board President tells CNN Travel. "And then we were responsible of the deployment of the sculptures that were selected."
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<strong>Huge success</strong>: McAlexander says he's been surprised by how successful the exhibition has been: "I've never really been big into the arts? So I just didn't think it was going to take off in the way it has, and I'm just completely baffled by the success of the project, by the popularity of it," he says.
Huge success: McAlexander says he's been surprised by how successful the exhibition has been: "I've never really been big into the arts? So I just didn't think it was going to take off in the way it has, and I'm just completely baffled by the success of the project, by the popularity of it," he says.
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<strong>Inspirational moments:</strong> The success of the project has changed McAlexander's perspective on the arts: "It's been wildly inspirational for me personally to be a part of something that's touched so many people," he says.
Inspirational moments: The success of the project has changed McAlexander's perspective on the arts: "It's been wildly inspirational for me personally to be a part of something that's touched so many people," he says.
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<strong>Living museum:</strong> "The works are so much more different underwater, because they've come alive -- there's schools of fish living in them, there's invertible growth already, as far as they just become alive and they look so much different underwater," says McAlexander.
Living museum: "The works are so much more different underwater, because they've come alive -- there's schools of fish living in them, there's invertible growth already, as far as they just become alive and they look so much different underwater," says McAlexander.
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<strong>Under the seas:</strong> If you want to see the underwater museum it's free to visit -- but of course you'll have to head under the seas first. "The feel, the experience is vastly different in diving rather than walking through a museum as we typically do," says McAlexander.
Under the seas: If you want to see the underwater museum it's free to visit -- but of course you'll have to head under the seas first. "The feel, the experience is vastly different in diving rather than walking through a museum as we typically do," says McAlexander.
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<strong>Changing exhibit</strong>: The sculptures will be added to annually: "It truly is a living, breathing, thriving museum that'll be different every time you dive, because there'll be different aquatic species present every time you dive," says McAlexander. "It fundamentally changes literally moment by moment."
Changing exhibit: The sculptures will be added to annually: "It truly is a living, breathing, thriving museum that'll be different every time you dive, because there'll be different aquatic species present every time you dive," says McAlexander. "It fundamentally changes literally moment by moment."
Courtesy Spring Run Media