About Florida Bay, exhibit + panel (2017)

Panel discussion ‘Issues surrounding About Florida Bay’ Left to right: Naturalist Steven Tennis; Interpretive Park Ranger Leon Howell; Dana Wildsmith; Valerie LeBlanc; Daniel H. Dugas; Nathaniel Sandler; Houston Cypress; Jason Hedges; Nick Gilmore. Not seen: Jason Hedges.

On view at AIRIE Nest Gallery from October 1, 2017 – January 15, 2018: About Florida Bay, featuring work by Houston Cypress / Mark Dion / Valerie George / Nick Gilmore / Jason Hedges / Valerie LeBlanc and Daniel H. Dugas / Nathaniel Sandler / Magnus Sodamin

About Florida Bay: 95% of Florida Bay is located in the Everglades National Park, and has undergone a series of ecological changes that have severely altered the natural ecosystem. To support the state’s agricultural water needs, the water was rerouted and no longer flows into the Bay, causing severe environmental issues and loss of native wildlife. About Florida Bay is a group exhibition in response to the unpredictability of this environmental dilemma, in which nine artists strive to capture the historical significance of this contested area while also featuring a sense of nostalgia and raising concerns about the future.

In addition to new work form our artists, this exhibition contains archival photographs are on loan courtesy of the South Florida Collections Management Center. In a unique partnership with AIRIE, Miccosukee Reverend Houston Cypress of Love the Everglades Movement presents sacred waters borrowed from the water cycle. Gladesman Glen Simmons’ photographs, notebook and carving generously provided by anthropologist Laura Ogden and specimens courtesy of Deborah Mitchell.

About Florida Bay is curated by Deborah Mitchell, artist and Executive Director, AIRIE, Inc. About Florida Bay is the third exhibition held in the newly renovated AIRIE Nest, made possible by a grant from the Knight Arts Challenge. AIRIE programming is also supported by a Culture Builds Florida grant and by a Hannibal Cox grant from Miami-Dade County.Works contained in this exhibition do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the National Park Service.

Opening reception and informal tours are offered on Sunday, October 8th, 1-3pm

Sundays in the Park ecology discussion and sculpting workshop Sunday, October 22, 1-3pm

All events are free and open to the public, open daily from 9-5pm