Karen Harvey of K.Leigh Images, creating 'AquaMarina: Princess of the Waters of Beaufort'
sponsored by North & Black, PC, located at the Anchorage House, 1103 Bay St.

What did you think of mermaids before the Big Swim?
Actually I pitied them for not having legs because I LOVE to dance!

How'd you feel when you first read or heard about the opportunity to  design a mermaid?
At first I assumed photography just wasn't an art that could be applied to creating a mermaid, but then a woman at the Beaufort Art Association convinced me that I truly could apply my photography to a mermaid, if I tried hard enough.

Why is it important to you to invest time, money and materials into a  piece of public art?
To me, it's one of those 'once-in-a-lifetime' things - - -when you're faced with it you either say YES and plunge in (semi-literally in this case!) Or say NO, and wonder for the rest of your life, 'What if?'How much of a legacy do you consider the Big  Swim to be? It's a fun chance in this moment of time to make a ripple in the history and heritage of Beaufort.

Where will your mermaid be in twenty years?
I haven't the foggiest!  Hopefully living FULLY in my memory, at least.

What's the story behind your design? Who is your mermaid?
AquaMarina is a tribute to the ever-changing and ever beautiful water landscape of Beaufort. She is a composite of my 'water reflection' art photography - - - and a window to my soul. I 'breathe' like never before when I am near or on the waters of Beaufort.

How do you hope people will react to your mermaid? what do you want  them to take away from your design, from the Big Swim, from Beaufort?
I hope that the first impression is this: At a distance, AquaMarina should look like a gorgeous colorful spectrum, a mosaic of gorgeously colored squares. At closer inspection, the squares should appear to be 'scales'  - - and upon even closed inspection, the intimate observer should have an 'aha' experience of - -'Oh my gosh - -that's a photograph! They're all photographs!'  At least, I HOPE so!
I hope they 'take away' an impression of 'seeing' SEVERAL mermaids, not just one.