Museum's 'Blue Path' exhibit explores, promotes protection of state springs

August 5, 2010

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Museum of Natural History presents its newest galleria exhibit, “The Blue Path: Protecting Florida’s Springs,” from Aug. 12 through Dec. 12.

Visitors can explore the state’s spring system and water cycle that shapes the landscape through photographs, paintings and displays by North Central Florida’s best artists, writers, filmmakers, educators and scientists. The exhibit examines how everyday choices can either deplete and destroy or restore the state’s water supply. It is suitable for all ages, and admission is free.

Coordinated by Florida’s Eden, a nonprofit citizen initiative dedicated to protecting Florida’s natural resources and building a sustainable and prosperous economy, the exhibit launches the Blue Path grassroots campaign to protect the state’s freshwater springs. The images and displays emphasize a “conservation first” strategy to preserving Florida’s valuable water resources.

“We will only have springs and aquifer protection when the people of Florida embrace and command it. Period,” said Annie Pais, executive director of Florida’s Eden.

The exhibit is dedicated in honor of High Springs photographer Wes Skiles, who made a career of filming and photographing underwater caves and springs and died while diving off the Boynton Beach Inlet in July. The exhibit includes one of Skiles’ photographs.

“Through his photographs and films he took us places we didn’t know existed,” Pais said.

Florida’s Eden hopes to travel the exhibit across Florida and bring attention to the Blue Path campaign.