Seaside Fiesta 2009 – a great family block party

Special “Martini” Art Walk

Note: Art Walk is being held the second Saturday this month, not the fourth Saturday. Art Walk returns to the fourth Saturday for July–November and will be held on the third Saturday in December (Dec. 19, due to Christmas).

SPECIAL ‘MARTINI’ ART WALK ON FLAGLER AVENUE

A special “Martini Art Walk” will be held 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, June 13 on Flagler Avenue in New Smyrna Beach.  Plan to visit historic Flagler Avenue and take a fascinating stroll along the avenue while enjoying the wide variety of art works featured inside galleries, as well as works by visiting artists set up under canopies along the avenue.

And this month, courtesy of the sponsoring galleries and avenue restaurants and lounges, there will be a special “Martini Art Walk ” in the afternoon. Tickets, $10, can be purchased at the tent next to the Gazebo at Flagler Avenue and Pine Street and will entitle holders to taste different flavored martinis at 11 locations on the avenue. There will be two different martinis available for tasting at each venue and virgin martinis will be available at Palms Up Pottery – 22 different martinis to choose from.

Art Walk features painting, jewelry, ceramics, glass blowing, sculpture, fabric arts and more – entertainment, artists’ demonstrations, and a special prize drawing presented by the Gallery Group of Flagler Avenue.

The prize for this month is a hand-thrown ceramic berry bowl from Palms Up Pottery

Be sure and get your Art Walk brochure wherever you see the blue and black flags with the white “gg” logo and get it punched at each of the four sponsoring galleries for a chance to win the monthly prize drawing.

Palms Up Pottery, 413 Flagler; will donate this month’s prize, a hand-thrown ceramic berry bowl. The other sponsoring galleries are Galleria di Vetro, 310 Flagler; Jewelry of Joy, 307 Flagler Ave.; and Ta Da Gallery, 113 Flagler Ave., where Linda Flynn will show her LunaSea Jewelry creations on the porch.

Rounding out the Art Walk attractions and fun are the many quaint shops, as well as a variety of dining options, for every taste and budget. Art Walk is held each month along the five-block area from the Indian River to the ocean and is a wonderful way to spend a day in charming New Smyrna Beach. Come for the art and stay for a beautiful beachside sunset.

Art Walk will return to the fourth Saturday of the month July-November and will be held Dec. 19 due to the Christmas holiday.

Professional artists in any medium are invited to participate in monthly Art Walks in New Smyrna Beach. Artists who can demonstrate their artistic technique are especially invited to attend. Upcoming themed Art Walks are: July 25, “Christmas in July;” Aug. 22, “Surf’s Up”; Sept. 26, “All That Jazz” (in conjunction with the New Smyrna Beach Jazz Festival); Oct. 24, “Fantasy Works Halloween Spooktacular”; Nov. 28, “Christmas Village”; and Dec. 19, “Special Christmas Celebration.”

For more information about Art Walk, or to request an artist’s application, call 386-428-1770, or visit www.flaglergallerygroup.com.

And don’t forget that the NSB Water Taxi stops at the west end of Flagler Avenue, at the Grill at Riverview every two hours starting at 12:30 p.m. The taxi also makes stops at Riverside Park and the Marine Discovery Center in New Smyrna Beach, as well as two locations in Ponce Inlet. For details, call 386-428-4828 or visit www.nsbtaxi.com.

Seaside Fiesta poster artist

Judy Shillingburg selected as 21^st annual Seaside Fiesta poster artist

Judy Shillingburg’s watercolor, “Seaside Fiesta,” was selected for the 21st annual Flagler Avenue Seaside Fiesta poster and T-shirt.

Shillingburg, a well-known Florida artist calls Destin,  “The Emerald Coast”, home. With an attention to detail and an eye for color, this prolific watercolor artist has established an easily recognizable style. Her unique works can be seen locally at Anthony Bell Creations, 320 Flagler Ave, New Smyrna Beach.

Shillingburg stopped in to see Bell on her way home from the Miami Boat Show in February, where she was named ROFFS™ (Roffer’s Ocean Fishing Forecasting Service, Inc.) 2009-2010 “Artist of the Year.” She was delighted that Bell asked her to create the image for the Seaside Fiesta poster.

“We have a festival here in Destin,” Shillingburg said, “ that is always filled with music, kids and lots of fun, so that was my inspiration in creating the Seaside Fiesta poster.”

Her colorful, lively and whimsical watercolor image is perfect for Flagler Avenue, a charming, quaint and fun place to visit.

Shillingburg’s creation features a bright red shrimp wielding a paintbrush, a keyboard playing crab, drum playing lobster, starfish, and three seahorses, one holding a violin with its tail.

Emerald green waters, magenta and apricot sunsets, the myriad creatures of the sea, the roar of the surf, a trophy sport fish at the end of a reel  – these are the visual images that Shillingburg has been painting since 1994.

Over the years Shillingburg has won more than 40 local, regional, and statewide awards for her work.  Shillingburg’s artwork has been selected several times for the annual Destin Seafood Festival official poster, the Destin Mayfest posters, Navarre Fun Fest posters, as well as 1998-2008 South Walton Visitor’s maps, 1998-2008 Destin/Ft. Walton Beach Visitor’s maps, and many others.

Shillingburg’s artwork is colorful and entertaining and is sure to bring a smile and a happy seaside memory.

Shillingburg is self-published with more than 500 limited edition giclée prints available. For more information about Mrs. Shillingburg’s artwork, visit her Web site at www.JudyShillingburg.com.

Seaside Fiesta T-shirts and posters designed by Shillingburg can be purchased in advance at Ta Da Gallery, 113 Flagler; Gone Bonkers (314 Flagler); and The Wicker Basket Boutique (401 Flagler).

Seaside Fiesta will be held from 5-9 p.m. Thursday, June 18 on Flagler Ave., New Smyrna Beach, with the street closing to cars at 3 p.m. The family-orientated block party will feature entertainment, food, games, and crafts. Most of the street’s businesses will remain open and there will be added food and craft vendors along the street.

AcoustiCon

The City of New Smyrna Beach sponsors Seaside Fiesta, with assistance from the Merchants of Flagler Avenue.

Entertainment will include Holy Smoke Band at the gazebo (Pine Street and Flagler Avenue) from 5-9 p.m., AcoustiCon at Seaside Station every half hour from 5-9 p.m. (east end of Flagler Avenue), and the local performance stage will be at Flagler and Peninsula avenues, with the following schedule:

5:30 Dance Factory

6:00 Terri’s Twirlers

6:30 American Martial Arts

7:00 NSB High School Color Guard

8:00 Terri’s Twirlers

For more information on the event, call 424-2175 or visit FlaglerAvenue.com. For T-shirt and poster information, call 427-2256.