The work of 240 artists from 28 states and Canada was presented at the 41st annual IMAGES: A Festival of the Arts over the weekend. A juried fine art festival known as one of the top shows in the Southeast, IMAGES, presented by Atlantic Center for the Arts, drew a huge crowd of over 48,000 in New Smyrna Beach.
“I very much enjoyed the experience of serving as co-judge along with Cecily Cullen, for the 41st Annual IMAGES: A Festival of the Arts,” said Bruce Hoffman of Philadelphia. “There was an outstanding variety of work in all medium, which to me makes for an enjoyable, well rounded festival. The staff and volunteers at Atlantic Center for the Arts were so lovely, knowledgeable and welcoming.”
Judge Cecily Cullen said, “Many thanks to the IMAGES Festival for inviting me to participate as a judge. It is a labor of love to be immersed in the creative work of artists and to spend the weekend with so many engaging people including the staff, volunteers and my judging partner.”
IMAGES Chair Denise Crutchfield announced the 2017 IMAGES: A Festival of the Arts award winners:
- ACA VOLUNTEER LEAGUE BEST OF SHOW AWARD ($6,000)
David David Figueroa / Sculpture / Sanford, FL
Atlantic Center for the Arts Co-Chairs Nancy Lowden Norman and Jim Frost with Best of Show winner David David Figueroa (center). All photos by Sandi Carroll.
ACA Volunteer League Best of Show Winner Award winner ($6,000) David David Figueroa with one of his sculptures.
- GEORGE AND JUNE MUSSON AWARD ($3,500)
Janet and Jay O’Rourke/ Wood/ Cocoa, FL
Janet and Joy O’Rourke
- MONA BREWER AWARD OF EXCELLENCE ($2,500)
Patricia Karnes / Jewelry / Winter Park, FL
Patricia Karnes (l-r) accepts her award check from Denise Crutchfield and Nance Koch.
- JIM MCNAMARA AWARD FOR PHOTOGRAPHY ($1,500)
Jay Canterbury / Photography / Holmes Beach, FL
Denise Crutchfield and Nance Koch congratulate Jay Canterbury, winner of the Jim McNamara Award for Photography.
- AWARD OF DISTINCTION (4) $800
Birgit Kupka-Peyla / Jewelry / Salinas, CA
Erika Mock / Fiber / Duluth, MN
Beth Garcia / Sculpture / Lakeland, FL
Patrick Dragon / Ceramics / Lakeland, FL
- AWARD OF COMMENDATION (6) $600
Vicki Jones / Drawing and Graphics/ Belle Isle, FL
Claudia Melchiorre / Jewelry / Cape Canaveral, FL
Tim Ludwig / Ceramics / DeLand, FL
Ummarid Eitharong / Painting / Orlando, FL
John Mascoll / Wood / Safety Harbor, FL
Jessica Ladd / Mixed Media / Cookeville, TN
- JUDGES’ CHOICE (5) $400
Jim and Mariann Wilshire / Painting / Roswell, GA
Ed Myers / Digital Art / Lake Mary, FL
Wiwat Kamolpornwijit / Jewelry / Alexandria, VA
Sara Parker and Simon Hunt / Fiber / Athens, GA
Christian Nevin / Jewelry / Apopka, FL
- AWARD OF MERIT (12) $350
Phil Parker / Mixed Media / Flagler Beach, FL
Robert Ross / Painting / Winter Park, FL
IMAGES 2017 Poster Artist Robert Ross with Patron Deborah Schaefer, who purchased the original artwork, “Bucket List.”
Steven Howell / Mixed Media /Gainesville, FL
Marilyn Vaillancourt / Jewelry / Weeki Wachee, FL
Michael and Nurit Asher Vagner / Jewelry / Eugene, OR
Joyce McAdams / Mixed Media / Edgewater, FL
Jim Norton / Jewelry / Athens, GA
Bill Kidd / Ceramics / Miramar, FL
Ronna Katz / Painting / Albuquerque, NM
Michele Throne and Dan Schaufele / Jewelry / Lyons, CO
Jeff Eckert / Drawing and Graphics / Tampa, FL
- AWARD OF HONOR (6) $300
Leigh Griffin / Jewelry / Atlanta, GA
Copper Tritscheller / Sculpture / New Smyrna Beach
Collin Margerum / Drawing and Graphics / Winter Springs, FL
Amy Lansburg / Mixed Media / Valdosta, GA
Kim Coy / Jewelry / Casselberry, FL /
Gary Curtis / Painting / Woodstock, GA
IMAGES is supported by the County of Volusia, City of New Smyrna Beach, New Smyrna Beach Resort Area, Spectrum Reach, Boston Whaler, Ocean Properties, Mullinax Ford, Bert Fish Medical Center, Florida Hospital, TD Bank, Daytona Beach News-Journal, Oceanwalk and Riverwalk Condominiums, New Smyrna Beach Brewery, 90.7 WMFE – Public Radio, All American Gutter Protection, Bath Fitters, Daytona Beverages, The Hub on Canal, The Solar Guys, The Spa at Venetian Bay, and Yellow Dog Eats.
Atlantic Center for the Arts Co-Executive Director Nancy Lowden Norman said, “IMAGES is an extremely competitive Festival to be juried into, and this year’s artists reflected such high quality work. Community support for the Festival is incredible, from our sponsors to our Patrons Program. This year, we had over 230 Patrons pre-commit to spending money on art at the Festival. We’re proud to be part of a community that values and supports the arts.”
For more information, visit atlanticcenterforthearts.org or call 386-427-6975.
Sandi's Out & About 