Exploring the depths of the ocean was fun with the artistic mermaid. A true example of turning passion into purpose. Diver and coral farmer, Anna-K Cuffe shares how she fuses art with activism. The preserving the importance of our coral reefs into beautifully handcrafted ceramic sculptures. We didn’t dive as deep as 150 feet as she did, but we came up with some important facts about the ocean. Sure, we enjoy a healthy seafood diet, but part of this interview reinforced that some fish are not food and they have a bigger role to play as reef protectors. She also left some dos and don’t’s of snorkeling you may find useful for your next vacation.
In this episode we also discussed:
- Discovering your passion through unconventional careers -The tug of war that led to ceramics
- Why are coral reefs important?
- Finding your happy place in the ocean
- How the built the environment disrupts marine life
- Protecting the sea from the land – walk with your garbage bag in hand!
Connect with Anna-K at http://theartisticmermaid.com
About The Guest

Anna-K Cuffe
Born in 1996 in Kingston Jamaica, my artistic journey began with the years spent at St. Andrew High School for Girls. Following my passion for the arts, went straight to Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts to pursue a degree in Fine Arts. As I moved deeper into my studies my admiration for and appreciation of the rhythmic movements of the ocean, its diverse and beautiful coral reefs and all its inhabitants merged with my passion for fine arts, specifically ceramics.
At first, my sculptures often took a formalistic approach to art; focusing exclusively on the form of the pieces rather than the content. However, for my final year project at the Edna Manley College, I ventured away from simply creating art for art’s sake and aimed instead to contribute to the conversation about our dying coral reefs. In 2017 I graduated from Edna Manley College with a Bachelors of Fine Arts specializing in ceramic sculpture.
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