Mermaids have occupied the realm of myth for as long as myth has existed. I recall being surprised and intrigued when the infamous pseudo-documentary about mermaids came out, how many people were temporarily fooled by it. Is the mermaid so compelling a symbol of freedom and otherworldliness that humans refuse to give up on the possibility that they may in fact exist?

 

In the meantime, we continue to create fantasy mermaid worlds to entertain us and satisfy our longing…

 

Professional Mermaids Are Lost Treasure of Florida Park

By Jakob Schiller

 

“The mermaids of Weeki Wachee Springs were one of Florida’s main attractions in the ’60s. Celebrities like Elvis would join nearly a million other visitors a year to take in their show. Drawing air from plastic hoses that flowed out of the bottom of their underwater theater in order to avoid fantasy-disrupting scuba gear, the mermaids could dazzle sold-out crowds with their acrobatics and performances for up to 30 minutes.

 

Today, while not as well-known as they used to be, the mermaids still perform.

 

“They are still local celebrities to many people,” says photographer Annie Collinge, whose recent photo project documents the performers…”

 

MERMAID_9
Photo: Annie Collinge
Share