Above: “How Now, Sea Cow” by Mya Breitbart.
On Saturday night, don’t miss “Making Waves: An Exhibition of Marine Art,” featuring work by Jenny Bleackley (watercolor), Jaci Salisbury (ceramics), and Mya Breitbart (photography).
The opening show will be held from 4-7 p.m. at Katee Tully’s General Assembly at the ArtsXchange, 515 22nd Street South in St. Petersburg. RSVP to Jenny at jennybleackley@aol.com.
Featured artist Mya Breitbart lives in St. Petersburg, where she is a professor at the University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science. Her research has allowed her to spend countless hours underwater, all over the world, from the freshwater springs of Florida to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Inspired by these amazing underwater ecosystems and finding that words couldn’t sufficiently describe them, she started photographing this world that many never have the opportunity to see.
Mya Breitbart’s Artist Statement
Some view the world through rose-colored glasses, others through a dark cloud of gloom. As a scientist, I was trained to objectively observe the world around me, document what I see, and communicate my findings. However, I’ve found that words often fail me when trying to describe the wonders that lie within the ocean. Experimenting with underwater photography was like finding a new voice for myself, a way that I could use the unique scientific lens through which I see the world to share my experiences with others. A combination of patience, perspective, and perhaps the ability to hold my breath for long periods of time, have given me the unique opportunity to capture the incredible, yet often invisible and mysterious underwater world that many will never have the chance to see firsthand. Baba Dioum famously said, “In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught”. I hope my photography fuels curiosity, interest, understanding, and love for the marvels of the marine realm, ultimately creating a unified desire to study and protect these incredible underwater ecosystems.
“Fall in Florida” by Mya Breitbart.
“Just Breathe” by Mya Breitbart.