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"Under the Sea" UMA Fundraiser at Grand Boulevard May 9

May 7, 2019 by SoWal Staff

Join the Cultural Arts Alliance on Thursday, May 9th from 6 - 10 PM in Grand Park for an evening with, Yacht Rock Schooner to benefit the Underwater Museum of Art (UMA), collaborative project with the South Walton Artificial Reef Association (SWARA)

“Under the Sea” will take place on Thursday, May 9th, 6:00 - 10:00 PM, in Grand Boulevard’s Town Center and is the official kick-off party for Art Month South Walton, a month-long celebration of the arts that includes many diverse arts events throughout the month of May. Tickets are $65 per person and are on sale now at UMAFL.org and CulturalArtsAlliance.com. UMA Sponsors receive complimentary VIP tickets and reserved seating for the event. Contact Jennifer@culturalartsalliance.com for information about sponsoring an individual sculpture.

“Under The Sea” party-goers will have an exclusive chance to meet the 2019 UMA artists and see their original sculptures before they are deployed to the UMA site. Special food menu items from some of South Walton’s most popular restaurants will be available, along with a cash bar featuring signature cocktails, wine, and beer. The event will take place in Grand Park, located in Grand Boulevard's Town Center at 585 Grand Boulevard, Miramar Beach, FL 32550. The event is rain or shine.

Funds raised from “Under The Sea” ticket sales and a silent auction will benefit the Underwater Museum of Art, the nation’s first permanent dedicated sculpture museum, recognized as one of TIME magazine’s 2018 100 World’s Greatest Places as well as one of National Geographic’s Best Trips 2019. The 2019 UMA installation, will include work by twelve artists, including Buttery by Alys Beach Construction (Alys Beach, FL), To Replenish With Water by Beatriz Chachamovits (Sao Paolo, Brazil), Saguaro by Ghazal Ghazo (Tucson, AZ), Aspiration by Shohini Ghosh (Highlands Ranch, CO), Let’s Flamingle by Rachel Herring (Santa Rosa Beach, FL), Wave! by Benjamin Mefford (Wilsonville, OR), I Found It! by Ingram Ober and Marisol Rendon (San Diego, CA), Love Thyself by Maxine Orange (Destin, FL), Let’s Not Blow This by Kevin Reilly (Montgomery, AL), El Plastico by George Sabra (Georgetown, TX), Depth of Decision by Gianna Stewart (Dorchester, MA), and X.Muta by Vince Tatum (Santa Rosa Beach, FL).

The sculptures will be on display at the fundraiser and throughout the weekend during the 31st annual ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival in Grand Boulevard’s Town Center and will then be transferred to Orange Beach, AL to be prepared for their deployment into the Gulf. The UMA site is located .71 miles off the coast of Grayton Beach State Park in a one-acre permit patch of seabed.

The UMA is a presentation of the CAA’s 'Art in Public Spaces' program in partnership with South Walton Artificial Reef Association (SWARA) with the purpose to create marine habitat and expand fishery populations while providing enhanced creative, cultural, economic and educational opportunities for the benefit, education and enjoyment of residents, students and visitors in South Walton. The 2019 UMA project is presented by Visit South Walton with support from The Alys Foundation, Visit Florida and the State of Florida Division of Cultural Affairs. For more information and tickets, visit UMAFL.org or CulturalArtsAlliance.com.

"Under the Sea" UMA Fundraiser is part of Art Month South Walton, an initiative of the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County with the purpose to bring communities, organizations and businesses together to present quality arts and entertainment to the community. Spanning the month of May, Art Month will feature visual, performing and literary arts programming in diverse formats and in various venues throughout South Walton.

The vision of the CAA is to be the catalyst for Walton County’s growth as a destination for cultural and artistic excellence through which lives are enriched, economy is stimulated and community is strengthened. Bayou Arts Center is located off Hwy. 393 North near Cessna Park. For more information on the Cultural Arts Alliance or to become a member or volunteer, call 850-622-5970 or visit www.culturalartsalliance.com. Follow CAA on Facebook for updates on events, art classes, and calls for artists.