Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival

(emerging artists booths)

Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival. I was chosen as an emerging artist from a group of applicants... if you are interested in these kind of events, and haven't done a major one, apply for this opportunity! The board provides each emerging artist with an all expense paid trip to Winter Park, Florida to show and sell their artwork. It was a great chance to talk with other exhibitors and get their advice on booth display and set up, pricing, traveling to and from festivals economically, etc. I learned a wealth of information from Janine DeCresenzo, a former Arrowmont artist in residence.

(my booth, and Ryan!)

There were two other emerging artists at the event, and we were placed together at the park. Jon Nate Cotterman is a glass artist from Cleveland, Ohio. It was awesome to meet him and his girlfriend Tony. Jon creates functional and sculptural glass, which is absolutely gorgeous. Richard Auger is a photographer and a Florida native. He photographs primarily at night, with very long exposures. The images are usually landscapes, and are quite interesting. Please check them out through the links!

All in all, it was a lot of work preparing for the show. But worth it? Definitely! My boyfriend, Ryan, came out early to help me construct hanging "walls" and earring displays to show wall pieces and the many torch fired earrings I have been working on. They were light and easy to set up when we arrived. On the last day of this three day event, an afternoon storm came through, and the hanging fixtures began to sway, along with the tent walls- it felt like we were on a ship! I know I'll need to keep working on these designs- weights? or maybe cables to attach the hanging fixtures to the ground?

My favorite part of the festival was meeting people. The other artists and board members were awesome. So friendly and wanting to help out in any way possible. The visitors- over 350,000- were pretty neat too. I met people from all over the state, many of whom had been to Arrowmont for classes or to teach, even a couple who had been in over the summer and had been in my studio for an open studio night. The most memorable was Judith. She has lived in Winter Park for many, many years. She came by each day with stories, and even flowers from her garden. She is very supportive of the arts, and found her appreciation through working for the local Morse Museum for many years. The museum is home to "the world's most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Amazing that this place was so close to the festival, with such treasures inside!

(Judith and myself)

On the last day of the event, the skies opened and the crowds cleared. The rain was falling sideways! So much water accumulated so quickly at our feet. We were standing in inches of water in no time. Judith came back to see if we were okay and needed help! I love this woman! I learned a valuable lesson because of this rain: Take booth shots as soon as you set up!!! I was waiting until the end... but the end wasn't so pretty. Bad mistake!

I'll leave you with a shot of the Spanish moss. It hung everywhere, and was so magical. I hope you have the chance to check out the other emerging artists, and encourage you to apply for this opportunity!