AQUIFERious and INTO THE AQUIFER

A panel of artists, writers, and scientists will meet to consider the aesthetics—and the threats—to our Florida springs on Earth Day, April 22 at 7 p.m. The event, which is open to the public will be at The Randy Batista Studio and Gallery in Gainesville, Fla.

Most members of the panel have contributed to a new book by artist Margaret Ross Tolbert entitled "AQUIFERious". The book uses the narrative and imagery of Tolbert to tell the stories of 12 North Florida Springs, and the aquifer that feeds them. "AQUIFERious" also includes photographs, artistic maps from inside the aquifer, essays and scientific articles from ten contributors. With its collective voices, the book recounts a world of fine art, extreme cave diving, history, literature, and science.

The panel will be moderated by ecologist Carol Lippincott, Ph.D. In addition to dialogue between the panelists, it will also answer questions from the audience. The panel includes Bill Belleville, writer and documentary filmmaker, Stefan Craciun, photographer for the Sirena Narrative, Eric Hutcheson, springs cave cartographer, Robert Knight, PhD, consulting environmental scientist and owner of Wetlands solutions, Tom Morris, biologist and extreme cave diver, and Margaret Ross Tolbert, artist.

The launch of "AQUIFERious" dovetails with the opening of INTO THE AQUIFER, an exhibit now on display at The Randy Batista Studio and Gallery, 21 SE 2nd place, Gainesville, FL 32601. For more information, call 352-375-1911 or visit our AQUIFERious page on Facebook.