Seven New Works of Art Added to The Underwater Museum
The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton hosts events to welcome new sculptures
Take in the wonders of art from a unique underwater perspective. The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County and South Walton Artificial Reef Association are set to unveil seven new sculptures that will become a part of the Underwater Museum of Art.
The Underwater Museum of Art (UMA) was created six years ago to cultivate marine habitats while providing creative and cultural opportunities that educate South Walton residents and visitors.
The 2024 sculptures will be deployed one mile off the coast of Grayton Beach State Park to join the 40 sculptures from previous years. Throughout the year, the exhibit is a dive site to be viewed by certified divers.
Photo courtesy of the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County.
The 2024 UMA installation will include the following pieces of sculpture: “Reef Goddess” by Raine Bedsole (Santa Rosa Beach, Florida), “Deep Sea Three” by Matthew Gemmell and David Showalter (Baltimore, Maryland), “Sea How We Flow” by Elise Gilbert (Santa Rosa Beach, Florida), “Poseidon’s Throne” by Nathan Hoffman (Highlandville, Missouri), “Bubbly Barnacles” by Donna Conklin King (East Orange, New Jersey), “Sunken Spores” by Ashley Rivers (Gulfport, Florida) and “Ring My Bell” by Bradley Touchstone (Santa Rosa Beach, Florida).
There will be two opportunities to see the art before it is submerged: The 36th Annual ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival on May 4 and 5 and the Dine + Dive Fundraiser on May 1. Both events will occur at Grand Boulevard’s Town Center. The Dine + Dive Fundraiser will kick off Walton County’s month-long celebration of the arts.
Photo courtesy of the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County.
This immersive event fuses fine art, culinary delights, luxury wines and marine conservation awareness. Attendees will be able to marvel over a few of the pieces for the 2024 installation and will have the opportunity to meet UMA artists from current and previous installations.
While taking in the art, partygoers can sip fine wines, craft beers and handcrafted cocktails while sampling food from over a dozen of South Walton’s most celebrated chefs. Live music will be presented by Cousin Curtiss, whose music merges rock, Americana and bluegrass.
For tickets to the Dine + Dive event and to learn more about UMA, visit https://www.culturalartsalliance.com/.
