We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful The Chesapeake Mermaid. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with The Chesapeake below.

The Chesapeake, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?

The Chesapeake Mermaid team has dedicated ourselves to crafting distinctive, educational programs rooted in our direct encounters with wildlife and habitats within our region, the Chesapeake Bay. Our commitment extends to tireless hours rescuing wildlife and rebuilding habitats, igniting our inspiration to bring to life storybooks, sets, characters, and performances through a blend of multimedia artistry. Everything we create stems from our firsthand experiences and we deliver a complete artistic performance.

During this time, the landscape has evolved—cosplay has surged, social media has taken center stage, and mermaid communities have redefined the essence of being a mermaid. Misconceptions abound, portraying us as models, influencers, or promoters of a certain lifestyle. Unfortunately, much of this perception has been expressed in a negative light.

Yet, none of this aligns with the core mission of our 501(c)3 non-profit. We are steadfast in our efforts to elevate our non-profit’s visibility, disassociate ourselves from these misconceptions, and ensure that we engage with the right audiences and platforms. However, challenges persist. Despite meticulously constructed contracts, press engagements, and branding strategies, our portrayal in the media often skews into these misconceptions, driven by the pursuit of sensationalized headlines and an audience fixated on mermaid fandom. It hampers our progress and creates obstacles in garnering support, even from our allies who fear being associated with the negativity.

It’s a challenge because at our core, we’re artists. While our programs cater to all audiences, akin to the legacies of Jim Henson and Fred Rogers, our artistry often gets pigeonholed as solely for children. We seem to hover outside the traditional art world, never quite meeting the criteria for creative partnerships or support. Non-profits mistake us for a business, while businesses overlook us as a non-profit. Many perceive the Mermaid as a solitary operator, unaware of the dedicated team of volunteers working behind the scenes to create Mermaid Magic.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

The Chesapeake Mermaid non-profit found its origins in a personal blog back in 2010. Tales contributed by the Chesapeake Mermaid herself, along with fellow wildlife volunteers and habitat restoration enthusiasts, breathed life into this digital space. As their involvement broadened into volunteering as museum guides and engaging in environmental tourism, the year 2012 marked the expansion of the Chesapeake Mermaid narrative through videos. The aim was to showcase the allure and joy of these experiences to encourage others to join. By 2013, this journey transitioned from sharing authentic experiences to crafting more imaginative tales as we transitioned to social media.

In 2015, we took our show on the road, laying the groundwork for what would eventually blossom into “The Last Bivalvian” interactive storytime. The story initially relied on verbal narration, possessing minimal sets and props, echoing the simplicity of our museum presentations. At the core of this narrative stood the Chesapeake Mermaid herself, purposefully diverging from typical mermaid stereotypes to spotlight life in the Chesapeake Bay. Instead of focusing on coral reefs, our attention shifted to shellfish reefs. She deliberately abstained from adorning herself with shells, advocating instead for oyster recycling. Her tail, reflecting local wildlife, adapted to suit the vast, shallow, brackish water body of the bay. Rejecting the conventional image of a princess fixated on self-image and makeup, she embraced a natural appearance, championing the values of hard work and the rewards of volunteering.

During those foundational days, our journey revealed who we weren’t through lived experiences. We weren’t akin to birthday clowns, cosplay, or a LARP. We weren’t a mall Santa, or a mere meet-and-greet. Instead, we embodied the essence of iconic figures like Smokey the Bear, Woodsy the Owl, or Ranger Rick—symbols of nature and environmental stewardship, epitomizing values extending far beyond mere entertainment.

In 2017, the story of “The Last Bivalvian” was published, covering the history of the Chesapeake Bay, the importance of oysters, and revealing the Chesapeake Mermaid’s origin. In 2019, “The Giants of the Bay” followed in a similar format, explaining some of the biggest challenges of the environment, finding hope in one another, and learning to be giants ourselves. In 2020, “Century Island” was released about disappearing islands, our fragile island habitats and wildlife, and featuring Chesapeake pirates. Each story features two maps, a story with enchanting illustrations, fun science facts, ideas on what you can do for the environment, and a song. Each story has an associated multimedia program which has a story, movement, songs, bay creature sign language, part of the tale coming to life, meeting our wildlife friends, and more.

Have you ever had to pivot?

In 2017, the Chesapeake Mermaid woke up deaf. In those first three months, she penned the verbal story of “The Last Bivalvian” into a storybook with vivid illustrations. She was determined not to let her deafness hinder our shows with the kids. How she’d manage, she wasn’t sure, but she was resolute to find a way. Despite returning to performing within months, concealing her deafness posed a significant challenge. Initially hesitant to address it, we were unsure how to broach the subject. Nonetheless, we owed it to our supporters and volunteers to chart a clear path forward, a journey that took us a couple of years to navigate.

The pressure to serve as a role model and integrate deaf programming into our shows was immense. While we appreciated the sentiment, we were still grappling with grief and adapting to a new way of life. Being deaf didn’t equate to fluency in being deaf, and we didn’t feel equipped to teach it. It felt like stumbling in front of an audience, a target for potential ridicule or anger. Despite these hurdles, we eventually shared our story and introduced Bay Creature Sign Language.

Regrettably, some competitors, with the ability to hear, swiftly adopted sign language into their programs. This made it appear disingenuous because people failed to grasp the stark reality of sudden deafness or waking up to a silent world—a personal journey we were navigating. Misunderstood, some viewed it as clickbait tactic or a marketing ploy, a misconception perpetuated by the internet’s skepticism.

The pandemic brought a halt to our in-person appearances, and with masks becoming mandatory, the deaf communities faced significant challenges. Online meeting software took over a year to implement captioning and accommodate an interpreter, leaving deaf communities struggling. Surprisingly, we received requests for the Chesapeake Mermaid to perform virtually in shows lacking the necessary deaf resources—requests we had to respectfully decline. Unfortunately, this decision created distance between us and our partners and venues, all facing their own struggles during this time.

To bridge this gap, the Chesapeake Mermaid team took it upon ourselves to acquire special technology aimed at engaging deaf audiences. Yet, it became evident that this wasn’t something that could be simply set up in a living room. We envisioned a dedicated space where these resources could be permanently installed. Thus, the Studio at Mermaid Grove took shape, its foundation laid in December of 2020. In January 2021, we partnered with the North Carolina Aquariums for our first three virtual shows, a testament to our commitment to inclusivity. While construction inside the studio continues, we’re striving to maintain our performance schedule, navigating the dual roles of builders and performers during this transformative period.

With time, our confidence in deaf programming grew. We incorporated more basic sign language into our shows just as hearing individuals on TikTok were facing criticism for using incorrect signs. Context was crucial; understanding our journey made the distinction clear. Out of context, we appeared like anyone else afraid of being called out for using “wrong” sign language. It was daunting.

Nevertheless, we persisted and achieved milestones. Our first coloring book published in 2023, featuring 120 native plants and animals along with engaging facts and finger spelling in sign language, became a bestseller among people of all ages. Heartwarming stories emerged, like grandmothers in their 90s purchasing copies for themselves.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

In the early days of our journey, we pondered the significance of our program and whether we truly connected with our audiences. As an educational outreach initiative, this connection was pivotal for our growth. Two impactful moments stand out…

During a visit to a venue we had frequented for three consecutive years, a five-year-old boy in line was enthusiastically praising us. It was evident he was a devoted fan. Climbing onto the Chesapeake Mermaid’s lap, he gazed up and exclaimed, “I’ve known you my whole life!” That struck a chord with us. While for us it had only been a few years, for him, our presence had woven seamlessly into his world. It marked the beginning of something truly special.

Later, an eleven-year-old girl attended one of our recurring events. She had encountered the Chesapeake Mermaid every year since she was six and was eagerly anticipating seeing her again. This deeply resonated with us because it signified that we had become a consistent presence in the lives of young individuals within our community. We had become a touchstone, a reminder of their past, present, and future—a profoundly touching realization considering our programs often delve into the narratives of the past, present, and future.

Our local museums boast enchanting Chesapeake Bay history—seaside resorts, beaches, and amusement parks. Remarkably, our program has already surpassed some of these historical highlights in its endurance. As we look ahead, our aspiration is to donate our props and programs to a local museum upon our retirement. This way, our children and their children can relive the magic of the Chesapeake Mermaid. We aren’t just crafting a show; we’re weaving a local legend—one we hope endures as long as the Chesapeake Bay needs her.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.ChesapeakeMermaid.com
• Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/ChesapeakeMermaid
• Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/ChesapeakeMermaid

Image Credits
The Chesapeake Mermaid