The Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida is inviting visitors of all ages to help create an underwater world inspired by award-winning artist and author Oliver Jeffers’ children’s book, “Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth.”
“Oliver Jeffers: Life at Sea” opened on Tuesday, Sept. 29, and will be on view through May 30, 2027. The free exhibition is organized by the Brooklyn Museum and curated by Sharon Matt Atkins, deputy director for art, and Keonna Hendrick, deputy director for learning and social impact.
The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays. It is located at 3259 Hull Road in Gainesville.
When the exhibition opened on Tuesday, the illustrated seascape was sparsely populated. Throughout the exhibition, visitors will create and add sea creatures to the underwater environment, collaboratively transforming the ocean into an abundant and vibrant ecosystem.
Based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Brooklyn, Jeffers is an award-winning artist, illustrator and writer who uses storytelling to advocate for the environment. His first nonfiction book, “Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth,” was written as a guide for his newborn son on how to navigate the world with kindness and an appreciation for the planet.
Grounded in Jeffers’ humor and playfulness, “Life at Sea” encourages visitors to explore their relationship with the Earth and climate while collaboratively creating an ocean environment.
“We are excited to see the community come together in a dedicated gallery space for creating art,” said Dr. Lee Anne Chesterfield, Harn Museum of Art director. “This initiative illustrates our commitment to being a free and accessible space that engages a vibrant, wide-ranging group of individuals, making visitors feel connected to their community.”
In addition to creating and installing sea creatures throughout the underwater landscape, the installation includes a sunken ship and a reading nook featuring books by writers who inspire imaginative thinking about the importance of caring for the environment.
The Harn’s recurring monthly programs, including Tot Time and Art Break, also will invite participants to design specific marine life to populate the gallery’s ocean floor. These activities will contribute to the transformation of the deep blue ocean mural from a sparse expanse into a vibrant biome filled with sea life.
For more information about “Oliver Jeffers: Life at Sea,” visit harn.ufl.edu/lifeatsea.