Weeki Wachee To Debut First Mermaid Calendar

WEEKI WACHEE - It's hard to believe that in the 60 years that mermaids have graced the underwater

theater at Weeki Wachee Springs, there has never been an official calendar.
But there's a first time for everything, and this "first" is particularly spectacular.
This year, world-renowned photographer Andrew Brusso - whose photographs of celebrities and musicians often grace the pages of Rolling Stone, Newsweek and even the sides of New York City bus

shelters - donated his time to capture the magic of the local attraction's mermaids, creating a unique, limited-edition, 16-month 2009 calendar. The full-color calendar, set to arrive in the attraction's gift shop June 30, is designed to be family-friendly and glamorous, reminiscent of the park's heyday as an "old Florida" tourist attraction.
A former Floridian who grew up in the Bradenton area, Brusso, 43, who now lives in New York City, recalled visiting the park as a child and watching the park's mermaid show in awe.
"I surf, too, so water has always been a big part of my life," he said.
After hearing about the attraction's struggles to remain open in recent years, Brusso approached marketing and public relations director John Athanason about the possibility of shooting photographs for a calendar.
However, it never seemed financially feasible for park officials until last fall, when Brusso volunteered to donate his services to Weeki Wachee during its highly publicized "Save Our Tails" campaign and 60th reunion celebration, Athanason said.
"Andrew did all of this for free, and all of the pieces just came together," Athanason said.
Brusso, who recruited vendors to donate equipment for a photo shoot, traveled to Weeki Wachee in October and spent three days photographing the mermaids in the attraction's underwater theater.
"I wanted to play off the early 'kitsch' days, so I asked the girls to think of (props)," he said.
The calendar features 16 classic "themed" photographs, with a different mermaid for each month. For example, the calendar has a mermaid with bunny ears for Easter, a mermaid with a flowing American flag for July 4 and a mermaid with a broomstick for Halloween.
Despite somewhat stormy weather, Brusso said the photo shoot went off without a hitch, particularly because the theater's underwater microphone and speaker system allowed him to direct the project's performers throughout the process.
"That's the beauty of having the underwater theater," he said.
"I was able to stay dry and the mermaids were able to get wet. It was a blast."
Manatees also showed up, adding an "old Florida" touch to several of the photographs.
Both Athanason and Brusso said they are thrilled with the finished product, which features four bonus months beginning in September 2008.
Athanason praised its artistic quality and value as a collector's item.
"It's not just a 'mermaid and a tail' and that's it," he said. "These pictures really are reminders of what Weeki Wachee's mermaids have been known for, (such as) the underwater tea shows they used to do back in the day."
There were only 2,700 calendars printed, and there will be no reprints, he added.
"From a memorabilia standpoint, every collector - whether they collect old Florida, Weeki Wachee or mermaid items - is going to want this," Athanason said. "It's a great reminder of Weeki Wachee and the wonderful magic that these mermaids have here."
Brusso, whose photographs advertising the TV show "Bridezilla" are currently plastering New York City, called the project one of the most self-fulfilling projects he has ever completed.
"It was a blast," he said. "It's like a great big family. I love those people."
Since Brusso's girlfriend is a New York performance artist who goes by "Bambi the Mermaid," he said he also felt a thrill at a local awards ceremony in which he received a certificate dubbing him an official Weeki Wachee merman.
"I was like, 'Who's the real mermaid now?'" he joked.
Since the mermaid lineup changes each year, he and Athanason are already hoping to create follow-up calendars in future years.
However, with park officials slated to donate the park to the state in November, future guidelines are uncertain, Athanason said.
"We're not sure how their budget system works, but hopefully they'll recognize the value of (this)," he said.
The calendars are currently available online for a special pre-sale price of $14.95, and are set to arrive at the attraction next week. Their price will rise to $19.95 after July 1.
On July 5, the calendar's mermaids and Brusso will be signing calendars at the attraction's front gate from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
For more information, go to www.weekiwachee.com or call the park at 352-596-2062.