Scenes from the 49th Annual Winter Park Autumn Art Festival
Jim Carchidi
Central Park was alive with inspiration as Florida artists exhibited their work during the Winter Park Autumn Art Festival, Oct. 8-9. Photos by: Jim Carchidi
A week of storm cleanup gave way to two days of art appreciation as 186 creators drew a crowd of thousands to the Winter Park Autumn Art Festival, Oct. 8 and 9.
Aside from being the only juried festival to exclusively feature Florida artists, the event is a boost for retailers and restaurateurs along Park Avenue.
“It draws more than 150,000 visitors, many of them from outside our region, which gives us an opportunity to show off our boutiques, bistros and the dynamic experience of visiting Winter Park,” said Betsy Gardner Eckbert, President and CEO of festival host, the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce.
The outdoor exhibition featured landscapes painted by a local architect, stained glass created by an MBA candidate, and the first performances on the recently completed Central Park Main Stage.
Click here for the winners list, and see the photo gallery for a look at some of the features and faces from the 49th Annual Winter Park Autumn Art Festival.
Residents, collectors, and those looking for a break from hurricane cleanup came to Central Park to enjoy some art and amazing weather during the 49th Annual Winter Park Autumn Art Festival.Fine art pieces in a multitude of mediums, like these clay portrait heads by Longwood artist C.C. Lee, were on exhibit during the weekend-long event.Aside from the visuals, the event marked the first performances at the new Central Park Main Stage.The Orlando Children’s Choir were the first to use the stage’s improved audio system.First-time exhibitor Jeannie Littleton, of Jacksonville, has been creating unique wooden boxes for 10 years. She combines wood from at least two different tree species for each piece.Watercolor artist Michael Williams, of Miami Beach, exhibits his portraits of water birds.A stained glass piece by Claire Barber, who is also an MBA candidate at the Rollins College Crummer Graduate School of Business.Delicate hummingbirds float around the exhibit tent of Clermont-based glass blower David Sandidge.Robin Holt, of Tallahassee, displays her glass jewelry creations. Marine life and scenery are the primary inspirations of sculptor Ruben Dario Medina. When he’s not painting architectural scenes, Maurizio Maso is a principal at Hunton Brady Architects. The paintings of Winter Park’s John Whipple backdrop a quiet corner of Central Park.Hand-colored photos by New Smyrna Beach-based Nels Johnson feature several rock icons.A charcoal portrait by Orlando artist Edson Campos looks back at her admirers.The Winter Park High School Jazz Ensemble takes its turn on the Central Park stage.Family, friends, and fans gather for the Winter Park High School Jazz Ensemble set.Joyce Curvin’s whimsical sculptures seem to vye for the attention of festival patrons.
