Nymphaea: The Sacred Waters of the Florida Springs
Orlando, FL: Rachel Simmons, 2026. Softcover. Number 9 of 15 copies, signed and numbered by the book artist. With this work she has created a complex and deeply informed tribute to Florida and to its history and environment. Rachel writes: "This limited edition artist's book was published by the University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries / Library Press @ UF. As the Coffey Artist-in-Residence, I was given access to UF's archives and special collections, which house a large collection of Florida tourism ephemera. As a long-time Florida resident, I was immediately captivated by the kitschy beauty of the postcards, pamphlets, and photographs created to draw tourists to my home state. I thought I knew a lot about the history of the Florida springs, but as I conducted research for this project, I found there were plenty of unfamiliar stories and familiar myths to unpack — including the origin of the Fountain of Youth legend, the complicated history of Florida's springs as economic engines, and the ongoing struggle to protect them. The resulting artist's book echoes the ephemeral look and feel of that material, but rather than perpetuating myths and legends, I wanted to share the deeper history of the Florida springs for those unfamiliar with the truth behind the stories. The title Nymphaea: Sacred Waters of the Florida Springs is drawn from the writing of William Bartram, a naturalist and explorer who traveled across the Florida wilderness in the late 1700s and compared the springs to Greco-Roman nymphaea — shrines to water nymphs that also served as sites for festivals and sources of clean water. I see the springs as a gathering place, one that sustains life and a sense of community for many Floridians.
As a printmaker, I am drawn to the way print has always been a medium for disseminating knowledge and images across time. The imagery in this series is drawn from my own photographs taken at the springs as well as from archival images in UF's collection. By digitally manipulating each image — cropping them into watery shapes and layering views of the springs' past and present — I am using contemporary print methods to reinterpret and recirculate these images for a new audience, much as the original ephemera once did.
The folded structure inside each book cover is an adapted version of the fish fold, a form created by book artist Hedi Kyle. The structure opens outward when pulled, much like research unfolds as you pull on a particular thread. The double-sided quality of each folded structure also positions past and present as two sides of the same coin.
I used commercial printing techniques like Risograph and digital printing to produce a series of five books, each focusing on a different dimension of the springs' cultural and ecological history. The series moves from deep time to the present: Book One: Nymphaea introduces the springs through the eyes of naturalist William Bartram and traces their prehistoric and Indigenous significance; Book Two: A Valuable Resource examines how the springs have been harnessed — and endangered — by human demand; Book Three: Fountain of Youth unpacks the myths and realities that have shaped how Floridians and visitors experience the springs; Book Four: Making a Living explores the entrepreneurs, performers, and communities who have built their lives around them; and Book Five: A Gathering Place reflects on the springs as shared ecological and cultural resources that continue to sustain Florida life today." In fine condition. The five books are housed in a box of green with a dark blue title label on the front cover. The box measures 11.5 x 6.5 x 1.25 inches. Each book measures 5 x 10.5 inches. Unpaginated. ARTB/061526. Fine.
Item #38352
Price: $625.00