Finding the Fountain of Youth, my award-winning book was originally conceived as a museum exhibit, but I pivoted to turn the content into a book after encountering resistance to my exhibit proposal. Ironically, an opportunity to create a Fountain of Youth museum exhibit materialized and the exhibit would be displayed first at the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville. Subsequent stops included The South Florida Museum in Bradenton (now the Bishop), Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, and the Matheson History Museum in Gainesville. 

The exhibit was originally created to accompany the Springs Eternal exhibit which I designed with photographer John Moran. After a successful run at the Florida Museum of Natural History, the Springs Eternal exhibit also traveled the state and it was displayed at the R.A. Gray Building in Tallahassee, the Museum of Science and History in Jacksonville, and Silver Springs State Park. 

I worked with John Moran again to design the Great Southern Music Hall exhibit, Return to Forever, for the Matheson History Museum in Gainesville in 2022. The exhibit highlights Moran’s photography as a 19-year-old student who captured classic images of future rock legends at Gainesville’s legendary venue. Also in 2022, I designed an exhibit for the West Volusia Historical Society in Deland called Bert Fish: A Life of Service to Community.

I am working with the Matheson again in 2024 to design their upcoming exhibit celebrating their 30th anniversary.

All photos by John Moran.