Jenna Thompson and Brian Shank of Cocoa Beach love coming to IMAGES to "buy some great art directly from the artists." Click on any photo to open in new window and zoom in on it. All photos by Sandi Carroll

Tens of thousands of art lovers took advantage of the clear and sunny weather to attend the 36th annual IMAGES: A Festival of the Arts, presented by Atlantic Center for the Arts, in downtown New Smyrna Beach January 28 & 29.

The festival featured more than 200 artists, plenty of food, live entertainment, a Student Art Exhibit, and the Creative Education tent that offered children a hands-on opportunity to create their own art.
Riverside Drive and Canal Street were lined with artist tents and masses of people came out to buy art and enjoy the warm sunny weather.
Jenna Thompson and Brian Shank drove up from Cocoa Beach. They said that they never miss IMAGES. “It is a wonderful art show with outstanding pieces of art to buy,” Jenna said. “We love coming to this art show.” They bought a mixed media piece from Tony Krysinsky of Pensacola, two photographs by Steve Vaughn of Winter Park and a glass piece by Paula Marksbury of Athens, Tenn.

Blake Vaughn, 4, loved his "sea-full" face painting.

Children enjoyed making newspaper hats, bubble prints, picture frames, salt water paintings, and creating straw weaving in the Children’s Education Tent. There was also face painting by Antonia and her helpers and the Student Art Tent, which featured art works by area students from kindergarten through high school.
More than $100,000 in Patrons Awards and cash prizes are given. Festival awards were given in six areas by the judges.
“I was very honored to be invited to the beautiful city of New Smyrna Beach and Atlantic Center for the Arts. I so enjoyed seeing all of the art and fine craft that this Festival had to offer,” said Judge Peg Fetter. “While the process of judging was very tough, I so enjoyed meeting and talking with each artist. It is obvious from community support that this Festival embraces the artists that are part of the show.”
Judge Jay Williams concurred, saying “The work in this Festival shows that fine craft in every way is as interesting and creative as paintings, prints and drawings.”
The Festival is presented by Atlantic Center for the Arts and is sponsored by the County of Volusia, New Smyrna Beach Resort Area, Community Redevelopment Agency of New Smyrna Beach, the City of New Smyrna Beach, Daytona Toyota, Brighthouse Networks, TD Bank, the Daytona Beach News-Journal, and Publix Super Market Charities.
The Best of Show award of $5,000 went to David David Figueroa, a sculptor from Sanford.

Sanford sculptor David David Figueroa won the $5,000 Best of Show award.

Other awards included:
George and June Musson Award ($2,500 award): Tim Ludwig, Ceramics, Deland
Award of Excellence ($1,500): Ummarid Eitharong, Mixed-Media, Orlando
Award of Distinction ($800 award): Steve Howell, Ceramics, Gainesville; Rolly Ray Reel, Mixed-Media, Maitland; Marilyn Vaillancourt, Jewelry, Wecki Wachee; John Kellum, Ceramics, Orlando
Award of Commendation ($500 Award): Charles Hazelaar, Sculpture, Cape Canaveral; Rodney Lints, Wood, New Smyrna Beach; Robert Kastrinos, Ceramics, Orlando; Richard Currier, Painting, Micco; C.M. Djordjievski, Sculpture, Ormond Beach; Christian Nevin, Jewelry, Parkland
Judges Choice ($350 Award): Lynn Fisher, Ceramics, Bellaire, MI; Gregory Jones, Mixed-Media, Lakeland; Michael Nemnich, Drawing/Graphics, Indialantic; Vadim Malkin, Ceramics, Gregory Strachov, Painting, Floral City

Ummarid Eitharong, Orlando, won the Award of Excellence ($1,500).

Tim Ludwig, DeLand, won the George and June Musson Award ($2,500)

Award of Merit ($250 Award): Leslie Peebles, Drawing/Graphics, Alachua; Patricia Karnes, Jewelry, Winter Park; Barbara Foley, Jewelry, Palm Harbor; Laurie Coppedge, Photography, Jacksonville; Bud Gilbert, Mixed-Media, Edgewater; Matthew Hatala, Wood, Danielsville, GA; Michael Nelson, Ceramics, New Smyrna Beach; Ken Laffal, Photography, St. Augustine; Su Abbott, Mixed-Media, East Point, GA; Martha and Gaff Pearce, Ceramics, Lewisville, GA; Joyce McAdams, Mixed-Media, Edgewater; Maria Cano, Jewelry, Lake Worth

Award of Honor ($200 Award): Michael Webber, Painting, Port Saint Lucie; Carol Elder Napoli, Mixed-Media, New Smyrna Beach; Teresa Thompson, Fine Crafts, New Smyrna Beach; Jay Canterbury, Photography, Holmes Beach; Susan Currier, Jewelry, Mico; Paula Marksbury, Glass, Athens, TN.

Festival-goers also enjoyed the variety of food from the food court and music and entertainment throughout the weekend. Among the headliners were Michael Lamy and Linda Cole, Stetson University Reggae Jazz Combo, Charlie Gear, Bobby Mercer Road Show and Junkanoo.
For more information about Atlantic Center for the Arts or IMAGES, visit www.atlanticcenterforthearts.org or call 386-427-6975.

Rolly Ray Reel

Steve Howell

Marilyn Vaillancourt

IMAGES will be held on Riverside Drive and Canal Street in New Smyrna Beach Saturday and Sunday Jan. 28 & 29.

IMAGES will present a kaleidoscope of diverse art works, featuring more than 200 talented artists, a festival food court, children’s activities, student art exhibit and live entertainment.

“Images was conceived by a group of local residents who wanted to make New Smyrna’s beautiful environment known to the rest of our country and the world as a place where creative, artistic minds could flourish. In return our community was exposed to really fine art,” Images Chair Martha Grimes said. “This year’s show will continue to offer exceptional diversity in many artistic categories. There will be something for everyone’s’ taste. As usual, our local volunteers will create a pleasant, friendly, welcoming atmosphere.”

Jay Williams, curator of exhibitions and collections at the Vero Beach Museum of Art, and metalsmith and author Peg Fetter are this year’s judges. They will make their selections Saturday of the finest works in the show to award more than $21,000 in prize money. Top festival awards include Best of Show, $5,000; June and George E. Musson Award, $2,500; and the Award of Excellence, $1,500.

The Patron’s Choice Awards, totaling $80,000 in 2011, continues to demonstrate community support for the Festival. IMAGES patrons pledge a minimum of $350 with $200 going toward the artwork of their choice. The $150 contribution to IMAGES helps to underwrite festival costs. Patrons receive ribbons to give to the artists whose work they select, an invitation to the Patron’s cocktail party with the festival judges, entry to the Patron’s lounge and more. Phone the IMAGES office at 386-423-4733 for details.

Junkanoowill perform twice Sunday, 12;30 and 2:30 p.m.

There will be outstanding entertainment both days of IMAGES:

Saturday, January 28
11:30- Noon — Traditional Thailand Dancers from Melbourne
Noon-1 p.m. –  Michael Lamy & Linda Cole (Broadway and standards)
1:45-2:45 p.m. — Stetson University Reggae Jazz Combo under the direction of Dr. George West
3:30-4:30 p.m. — Celtic Wave (four-piece Celtic group and dancer)

Sunday, January 29
11:45 a.m. –12:30 p.m. — Charlie Gear (Celtic/Celtic Pop)
12:30- 12:50 p.m. — Junkanoo  (Bahamian dancers)– South Riverside to Riverside Park
1:15-2:30 p.m. — Bobby Mercer Road Show  (Vegas style show band)
2:30-2:50 p.m. — Junkanoo (Bahamian dancers) — Christmas Park on Canal Street to Riverside Park
3:15-4 p.m. — Mark Z and Jeff Whitfield  (acoustic duo/ soft rock)
Entertainment booked by Marc Monteson Promotions
Sound provided by BT Sound

IMAGES is an art event for the entire family, so be sure to stop by the Creative Education tent for free art projects geared specifically to kids. Hours are 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Art projects will include straw weaving, wacky newpaper hats and fun watercolr resist painting. There will also be a face painting tent. Be sure to check out the student exhibition tent to view works of art by students from Edgewater Public School, New Smyrna Beach High, New Smyrna Beach Middle School, Chisholm Elementary, Indian River Elementary, Read-Pattillo Elementary, Sacred Heart School, Coronado Beach Elementary and Samsula Academy.
Indiatlantic artist Michael Nemnich is this year’ IMAGES poster artist. His oil pastel “Red Bird’s Flight” will be on the poster and T-shirts for the festival.
“Raised on Florida’s east central coast, I have used my travels throughout the world as a source of inspiration in my art. My oil pastel artwork is comprised of building thick layers of color on handmade cotton paper. After stacking or blending the colors, I scratch out layers to expose the underlying colors. I add designs, highlights and words to achieve the desired image. These are one of kind pieces done exclusively by me,” Nemnich said.

New Smyrna Beach, rated as one of the “100 Best Small Art Towns in America” in the book by John Villani, pulls out all the stops in welcoming IMAGES artists and patrons to town for the festival. So, put on your comfortable shoes, grab the kids and your wallet and plan to enjoy an outstanding weekend of the arts at IMAGES Jan. 28 & 29.

Sponsors for IMAGES include: City of New Smyrna Beach, Volusia County, New Smyrna Beach Visitors Center, Community Redevelopment Agency, Brighthouse Networks,Daytona Toyota, The Daytona Beach News-Journal, Publix Super Markets Charities and The Garlic Restaurant.

For more information about the festival, phone the IMAGES office at 386-423-4733 or visit www.imagesartfestival.org.

Pat Justin and David Lowe as Lillian Troy and John Barrymore. Photos by Sandi Carroll

Prepare to be thoroughly entertained at the Little Theatre of New Smyrna Beach with its presentation of “I Hate Hamlet” Jan. 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22. Evening performances are at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. This comedy by Paul Rudnick explores what happens when a young actor is offered the chance of a lifetime – an opportunity to perform Shakespeare’s Hamlet in Central Park – only he’s not really sure he wants to.

Andrew Rally, played by Rob Baldwin, moves from Los Angeles to New York and rents an apartment that once was the famous John Barrymore’s abode. His indecision about playing Hamlet and his angry shout of “I hate Hamlet” raises the ghost of  Barrymore, played by David Lowe, who fortified by champagne and a massive ego, sets about to change Andrew’s mind and have him fulfill his actor’s destiny. Andrew wrestles with his conscience, while Barrymore, his sword and a cast of quirky characters pop in to add to the fun. The quick comedy and larger than life personalities provide non-stop laughs.
Carrie Van Tol  plays Felicia Dantine, the “nu-yawk” realtor and free-lance psychic who brings Rally and Barrymore together. Alexa Baldwin plays Rally’s wealthy girl friend Deirdre McDavey, thrilled at the idea of her man starring in “Hamlet.”  Pat Justin plays Lillian Troy, Rally’s imperious agent — who, as fate would have it, was one of Barrymore’s many sexual conquests. Sam Goodwin plays Gary Peter Lefkowitz,  a kaleidoscope of bright shirts and brash opinions, and Rally’s deal-making representative in LA. The production is directed by John Stenko.
Tickets are available at the Box Office Monday through Saturday from 1 to 4 PM at 726 Third Avenue, Beachside, NSB or by calling (386) 423-1246. Visit the website for information about this show and other Little Theatre activities at www.NsbPlayers.org. “I Hate Hamlet” is presented through special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc.

Alexa Baldwin, Pat Justin, Carrie Van Tol and Rob Baldwin

Pat Justin (front, l-r), Alexa Baldwin, Carrie Van Tol; Sam Goodwin (back, l-r), David Lowe and Rob Baldwin.

Wine Walk tickets are available at the tent at Ta Da Gallery, 113 Flagler Avenue, and also at the corner of Cooper Street and Flagler Avenue, NSB.

The popular monthly event features painting, jewelry, ceramics, decorative art, sculpture, fabric arts, pottery and more. Presented by the Gallery Group of Flagler Avenue, there will also be entertainment and a special punch card prize drawing. DJ Dennis will be playing everyone’s favorite holiday music at the gazebo at Flagler and Pine, and live glassworking demonstrations will be presented at Galleria di Vetro throughout the day.

The wine walk portion of Art Walk runs from 1 to 7 p.m. and offers a progressive wine tasting along the avenue where participants can taste their choice from more than 50 showcased wines. Wine tasting passports are $20 and are available at Ta Da Gallery, 113 Flagler and at the tent at Flagler Avenue and Cooper Street. The passport will include 20 tasting tickets and a keepsake wine glass. Some locations feature both one-ticket and multi-ticket wines to sample. It is a great way to extend you knowledge of wines and try something new and different.

A “Wine Tasting” flyer will list host locations in geographic order between the river and the ocean and what wines are featured. For those who want to share their 20 tasting tickets with a friend, an additional wine glass will be available for $10. From the river heading east to the ocean, the locations are: 100 block, Ta Da Gallery, Heavenly Sandwiches & Smoothies; 300 block, Clancy’s Cantina, That’s Amore, Gyftz, Manzano Fine Foods, Galleria di Vetro, Trader’s Beach Club, Om Bar & Chill Lounge; 400 block, Flagler Tavern, Peanut’s Restaurant Sport’s Bar; and around the corner on Buenos Aires at Toni & Joe’s.

Joy Badders creates sterling silver and gold jewelry at Jewelry of Joy. This month's punch card drawing prize is a pair of sterling silver earrings.

A special “punch card” prize drawing is presented by the Gallery Group of Flagler Avenue. The Wine Tasting flyer includes the punch card, so pick one up and get it punched at each of the four sponsoring galleries for a chance to win this month’s prize, sterling silver earrings, donated by Jewelry of Joy, 301 Flagler Ave.

Other sponsoring galleries are Ta Da Gallery, 113 Flagler Ave.; Galleria di Vetro Studio and Glass Gallery, 310 Flagler; and Palms Up Pottery, 413 Flagler. Traci Remillard won the keepsake box by Lunacy Designs, Mary Mundy artist, donated last month by Ta Da Gallery.

Start the new year off right. Come for the art, enter the drawing, enjoy tasting some new and interesting wines, and stay for a fabulous beachside sunset.

For more information about Art Walk, call 386-428-1770, or visit www.flaglergallerygroup.com.

Upcoming Art Walk and Wine Walks will be held Feb. 25, March 24, April 28, May 26. June 23, July 28.

Live flameworking demonstrations will be held at Galleria di Vetro - Kyle Carni pictured.

Ho! Ho! Ho! The Christmas Art Walk and Wine Walk on Flagler Avenue, New Smyrna Beach, will be held Saturday, Dec. 17. It is the perfect place to take a relaxing stroll and do some last minute holiday shopping. This special holiday Art Walk will be held from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., with the Wine Walk from 1-7 p.m. There will be something for everyone, including art works on display in galleries, as well as by visiting artists set up under canopies on the avenue.
The popular monthly event features painting, jewelry, ceramics, decorative art, sculpture, fabric arts, pottery and more. DJ Dennis will be playing everyone’s favorite holiday music at the gazebo at Flagler and Pine, and live glassworking demonstrations will be presented at Galleria di Vetro throughout the day.
Wine tasting passports can be purchased for $20 at the tent at the NE corner of Flagler Avenue and Cooper Street or at Ta Da Gallery, 113 Flagler Ave. The passport will include 20 tasting tickets and a keepsake wine glass. Some locations feature both one-ticket and multi-ticket wines to sample. It is a great way to extend you knowledge of wines and try something new and different.
A “Wine Tasting” flyer will list host locations in geographic order between the river and the ocean and what wines are featured. For those who want to share their 20 tasting tickets with a friend, an additional wine glass will be available for $10.

Wine Walk tickets are available at the tent at Ta Da Gallery, 113 Flagler Avenue, NSB.

From the river heading east to the ocean, the locations are: 100 block, Ta Da Gallery, Heavenly Sandwiches & Smoothies; 300 block, Clancy’s Cantina, That’s Amore, Gyftz, Manzano Fine Foods, Galleria di Vetro, Trader’s Beach Club, Om Bar & Chill Lounge; 400 block, Flagler Tavern, Peanut’s Restaurant Sport’s Bar; and around the corner on Buenos Aires at Toni & Joe’s.
The special “punch card” prize drawing is presented by the Gallery Group of Flagler Avenue. The Wine Tasting flyer includes the Art Walk prize drawing punch card, so pick one up and get it punched at each of the four sponsoring galleries for a chance to win this month’s prize, a keepsake box by Lunacy Designs, Mary Mundy artist, donated by Ta Da Gallery, 113 Flagler Ave.
Other sponsoring galleries are Jewelry of Joy Gallery and Studio, 301 Flagler Ave., Galleria di Vetro Studio and Glass Gallery, 310 Flagler; and Palms Up Pottery, 413 Flagler Avenue.
Come for the art, enjoy tasting some new and interesting wines, savor the holiday atmosphere and stay for a fabulous beachside sunset. For more information about Art Walk, call 386-428-1770, or visit www.flaglergallerygroup.com.

The boutique was a popular stop on the IMAGES Tour of Homes Dec. 3, with a line at the pay station. CLICK ON ANY PHOTO AND IT WILL OPEN LARGER IN A NEW WINDOW.

The IMAGES Tour of Homes provided ticket holders entry into seven unique and interesting homes decorated by area florists and the homeowners Dec. 3. Hundreds of tickets were sold to those who were curious about the interior of the homes and who wanted to see the latest ideas in holiday decorating.
Homes on this year’s tour included two on beachside — the renovated “Honey House,” on Saxon Drive, owned and decorated by Jeff and Paige Gehris and the charming beach house on Villa Way, owned by Apryl McEligot and decorated by New Smyrna Beach Florist; two near downtown — the historic 1900s renovated two-story home on South Riverside Drive of Anthony and Eveline Kraljic, decorated by Simply Flowers, Roses and More of New Smyrna Beach and the historic 1920 home on Faulkner Avenue of Susan Ward, decorated by Another Secret Garden of Edgewater; two homes in Sugar Mill Country Club — the thoroughly modern and artistic home of Gwen Hughes located on a lake and decorated by Lindley’s Nursery and Garden Center of New Smyrna Beach and the elegant modern home of Dale and Heather Williams, decorated by Pink Flamingo at Petals of New Smyrna Beach; and the Venetian Bay home of Dave LeBlanc and Bill Peterson, decorated with its owners’ substantial collection of Christmas items and “themed” trees.

Monique Fischer of Port Orange (left) and friend shop at the boutique.

Elise Laubach admires an angel created by Cathy Berse and Teresa Bowen at the boutique.

The IMAGES Boutique,held at Atlantic Center for the Arts, was a very popular stop on the tour. Holiday ornaments, hand-made purses and baskets, jewelry, shell angels, decorated aprons, paper lamp shades, and other unique and lovely items created by ACA League members were quickly snapped up. The boutique also featured a silent auction, and offered an elegant array of refreshments to ticket holders.

Homeowner Anthony Kraljic answered tour-goers' questions about the history and renovation of his 1900s home on Riverside Drive.

Homeowner Susan Ward (in white) invited tour-goers to have a "cookie and cider" after they toured her 1920s Faulkner Street home.

ACA staff and IMAGES volunteers would like to thank the seven homeowners for their graciousness in opening their homes for the tour. They would also like to thank the participating florists and businesses that support the Tour of Home; and ticket holders for supporting this year’s tour and making it such a big success.
The tour is the main fundraiser for IMAGES: A Festival of the Arts, which will be held in Riverside Park and downtown New Smyrna Beach Jan. 28 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Jan. 29 from 10 a.m-5 p.m. For more information, to volunteer, or become an IMAGES patron, phone the IMAGES office at 386-423-4733, or visit its website, www.imagesartfestival.org.

Each room in Apryl McEligot's home had a distinctive holiday touch. It was decorated inside and out by New Smyrna Beach Florist. All photos by Sandi Carroll.

Sister showdown

Ho! Ho! Ho! “Dashing Through the Snow” will open at the Little Theatre of New Smyrna Beach Friday, Dec. 2. Written by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten, the comedy will be performed Dec. 2,3, 8 and 9 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 4 and 10 at 2 p.m.
Holiday hilarity abounds in Tinsel, Texas and the laughs are non-stop. In the days leading up to Christmas, guests at the Snowflake Inn B&B go to extraordinary lengths to keep their Yuletide plans on track.
Inkeeper Trina Walcott has her hands full with a pair of feisty, feuding aunts, a troop of ham actors on a secret mission, a rendezvous between Mrs. Claus and an amorous elf, and a raucous visit with the Futrelles: Honey Raye, Twink, Frankie, Rhonda Lynn and their loveable sidekick, Raynerd.

The Futrell sisters

Directed by Aaron Collins, the cast includes Rosemary Sha, Heidi Ackerson, Steven Smith, Karen Poulsen, Will Bordelon, Marie Bonham, Sara Marsh, Beverly Palmer, Laurie Biedrzycki, Barry Kite, Jenanna Cartez, Liz Davis, Patti Earl, Janie Hale, Bernadette Siudock and Stephen Realo.
The Little Theatre is at 726 Third Ave., New Smyrna Beach. Call 386-423-1246 or visit nsbplayers.org for ticket information.

The cast of "Dashing throught the Snow." All photos copyright Sandi Carroll