"playing" for votes.
> Meet August Powers: Master of Fluidity
On July 12, 2008, a chartered dive boat set out from Big Pine Key, FL, headed for Looe Key Reef. Its manifest read like any other, but its occupants were anything but ordinary.
“Anybody got a knife?” asked Eric Rolfe as the boat cut over waves toward the reef. He held a rubber mask in his hand that clearly resembled Barack Obama.
A deckhand passed him a pocketknife, and Eric went to work on the eyes of his mask.
“Betcha didn’t know you’d be performing plastic surgery,” somebody yelled from the back of the boat.
“Yep. Gotta be able to fit the mask under the mask,” Eric joked back.
Thus began the last-minute preparations for the 24th annual Underwater Music Festival presented by the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce. This year’s theme: “Eel-lections, Reef-Publicans Join the Demo-Crabs Under the Sea,” featuring Barak-Accuda, John Mc-Clam and Hillary Clin-Tuna.
“They asked me to be secret service this year,” John Nazzaro said as he pulled his wetsuit on. “But they won’t give me a gun. I shoulda brought my water pistol.”
As the boat docked at buoy 13, speakers blaring The Beatles’ Octopus’ Garden were lowered into the water, officially kicking off the festival. Bill Becker hoisted his tank over his secret service suit and tie, flippers on his feet. Becker is News Director at US 1 radio, and the festival is his brainchild.
models this year's featured art
piece, the Clam-bourine.
Flags were unfurled and lowered port side as two “ladies of the deep,” a mermaid (Samantha Langdale) and Aunty Sam (Cassi Nichols), climbed down the ladder and eased into the water. Yards away, boats swayed at buoys in a circle around the reef—a mix of sailboats and powerboats—dive flags flying high from each.
Back on board, the candidates strapped on weight belts and splashed toward the reef’s bottom for glad-handing and photo ops with their mask-and-fin public. Each cast member held an instrument crafted by local artist August Powers, who has amassed a collection of 12 copper “instruments” from previous underwater fests. His latest creation, the Clam-bourine, made its debut this year.
The festival, held each year on the reef, is intended to both entertain and educate the public about conservation and responsible enjoyment of the Keys’ fragile reef systems. Volunteers from the Chamber serve as cast members.
“We used to drive down from Atlanta to see it,” said Bob Rowand, who played Mc-Clam. His wife, Alicia Merel, portrayed Hillary Clin-Tuna. “We’d read about it. Then we moved down here five years ago and volunteered. We love it.”
Everyone commented on the calmness and clarity of the water this year. “It was crystal clear down there,” noted Ron Saunders, who, as state representative from the Keys, was the only true candidate on board for the festivities. Even this politician couldn’t resist the emerald-green waters. He snorkeled the reef for a few minutes before climbing back on board. Bill Becker summed it best during a live radio interview. “The candidates are ‘immersed’ in their campaign…they all seem to be united in their concern for the coral reef.” Back to Top