Scenes from the 64th Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival
Jim Carchidi
Park Avenue welcomed art lovers and creators as the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival celebrated its 64th year. Photos by: Jim Carchidi
Downtown Winter Park assumed its yearly role as the bright center of the Central Florida art community as the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival kicked off its 64th event on Friday, March 17. The list of 215 attending artists was selected from more than 1,000 applications from around the world and included more than 30 first-time exhibitors.
An estimated 250,000 visitors attend the weekend-long event with many splitting their time between art appreciation, retail therapy, and restaurant exploration. Street closures allowed for expanded outdoor dining options that proved popular as St. Patrick’s Day happened to coincide with the first day of the festival.
See the photo gallery for a look around the 64th Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival.
Minneapolis-based bronze sculptor Kimber Fiebiger polishes one of her pieces.Fiebiger’s work includes a range of subject matter but many of her show pieces, like “Jammin’ Eggs,” seemed to have a similar inspiration.DeLand-based sculptor Jack Hill stands with one of his larger-than-life designs.Hill creates unique takes on everyday objects in a range of sizes.A patron seems to travel through the landscapes of painter Sooro Kim of Lawrenceville, GA.A school of glass-blown fish circles the exhibit booth of North Carolina-based artist Richard Ryan.Jaana Mattson of North Carolina creates works of art by layering fiber.Her pieces are often mistaken for paintings until the viewer can get close enough to see the detail.The art of San Francisco-based Michael Gard also requires close inspection to fully appreciate. Gard uses ethically-sourced insects to create intricate patterns in his mixed-media pieces.The pastel drawings of Michigan artists Brian McKelvey and Lyle VanAmburg celebrate the pubs, bars and restaurants of the cities they visit. Their “Winter Park Pubs” piece includes many local favorites.Emmanuel Diaz of Homestead, FL finishes hanging the portraits he paints with his wife, Sandra Rodriguez.Mary Jane Piccuirro of New York creates tribal masks from recycled paper.Patrons fill Park Avenue on the first morning of the festival.The paintings of South Carolina artist Keith Grace seem to blend with the passing crowd.Outdoor dining was popular as the chilly morning gave way to a comfortable afternoon.Ceramic Artist Paul Jeselskis of Michigan City, IN sets up his eye-catching exhibit tent.Many of the festival’s fine art pieces have everyday functionality, like this ornate purse by Maryland-based Tanners Creek Leather Design.Naples-based jewelry artist Oliver Schnoor wears one of his unique pieces as he greets patrons to his display.Woodworker Tyler MacDonald of Naples exhibited his intricate guitar bodies.Curious patrons line up for a look inside the kaleidoscope creations of Mark and Carol Reynolds of Austin, TX.The artists use surface mirror systems with oil-filled object chambers to create the captivating visions inside the hand-crafted wood bodies.
