City of Sarasota to Recognize Iconic Mermaid Fountain Downtown

September 9, 2024 | Sarasota

The City of Sarasota’s public art program will be commemorating the iconic “Mermaid Fountain” (formally entitled “L’Aria della Figlia Muta”) created by artist Nancy Matthews, which has been included in the Smithsonian Institution’s collection of public art sculptures. According to Mary Davis Wallace, public art manager for the city, the event will celebrate this prestigious honor on September 13 at 7:30 p.m. at Paul N. Thorpe J. Park, 135 S. Pineapple Ave., at the intersection of Pineapple and Lemon avenues in downtown Sarasota.

The beloved fountain has been a downtown Sarasota landmark since 1993 when Matthews meticulously built and installed this elaborate, large-scale work. Her creation encompasses several pools, with beautiful, bas-relief imagery on either side. The fountain takes its name from the south-facing panel — a depiction of a welcoming mermaid flanked by two vibrant dolphins. The north-facing panel portrays the Tree of Life with intricate carvings of Florida’s native animals, plants, and birds. Along with these primary panels, the fountain boasts 30 additional panels with charming vignettes. The fountain pool basins and surrounding sidewalks are also adorned with ceramic

images of an octopus, a lobster, and other sea creatures. It adds up to a rich and immersive experience.

“We are happy to see ‘L’Aria della Figlia Muta’ receive the recognition it deserves from the Smithsonian Institution,” says Wallace. “Her work has not only beautified our city but has also become an integral part of Sarasota’s cultural and artistic identity. This honor is a testament to Nancy’s talent and the lasting impact of her work.”

The September 13th celebration will feature remarks from Nancy Matthews, city officials, and arts community leaders. Attendees will have the opportunity to celebrate this milestone and appreciate the artistry and craftsmanship of the Mermaid Fountain.

About the Artist

Nancy Goodheart Matthews grew up in the Virgin Islands and says that the cultures and spirituality of the Caribbean have deeply influenced her work. As she also studied the work on the unconscious by noted Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung, her work tends to incorporate archetypes and myths. The majority of her commissions have been architectural carvings, applying ceramics to the interiors and exteriors of buildings. She has additionally created works in fabric sculpture (articulated dolls), jewelry, and prayer bags.

Matthews attended the New York School of Visual Arts from 1969 to 1971 at which point she received a grant from the government of the Virgin Islands to attend the Art Institute of San Francisco from 1973 through 1975. There she studied printmaking and ceramic sculpture. Eventually settling in the southwest Florida area, her first commission for architectural ceramics was from renowned Sarasota School architect Carl Abbott. For the next 40 years she received a succession of commissions by word of mouth and referral from clients. She has shown her work at the Allyn Gallup Gallery, Marie Selby Museum, The Ringling, Bishop Museum, and the Florida Craftsman Gallery in St. Petersburg.

Matthews’ ceramics work has included furniture, including dining room tables and large carved mirror frames, fireplaces, residential entrances, pool fountains, parking

entrances, kitchens, and bathrooms. Recent work includes brooches and jewelry incorporating ceramics, beading, stone, and other materials, pin woven fabric work becoming prayer bags, and a new series of dolls combining clay, fabric, and wood.