Artists to flock to Valencia for 44th annual art festival

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Artists to flock to Valencia for 44th annual art festival

Around Osceola

Wednesday, 19 January 2011 00:00

By Sam Gilkey
For the News-Gazette
More than 150 artists are expected at the 44th annual Osceola Art Festival Feb. 12-13 on the Valencia Community College Campus, off U.S Highway 192 between Kissimmee and St. Cloud.
Jules Davidson, director of visual arts at the Osceola Center for the Arts, said the event has grown by leaps and bounds since moving to the college location in 2009. The festival started on the Kissimmee lakefront and was there for many years. In 1999, it was set up on Broadway in the downtown business district and remained there for a decade.
“One of our greatest draws for artists who participate in the show is $15,000 in prize money,” Davidson said. “We also will have upward of $5,000 in pre-purchase certificates bought by local businesses and residents that can be used to buy artwork at the show. We expect to have artists from all over the country as well as several foreign countries.
“Every year the level of talent is elevated and this year will be no exception. We took care to showcase artists of various levels, styles and price points in order to accommodate everyone in the community.”
The work at the show will include painting, pastels, graphics and drawing, photography, glass, clay and ceramics, jewelry, wood and metal sculpture, mixed media and fiber. No commercially produced work is accepted.
There will be two best of show $1,500 awards — one in 2-D and one in 3-D. Additionally, there are nine $900 first-place awards in each category, 10 $300 open awards of excellence and nine $100 open honorable mention awards.
This year, in an effort to raise awareness for Central Florida’s local art galleries, artist leagues and artists, the festival is providing space in a separate location from the juried award booths. These vendors will not qualify for prize money or awards.
The student art tent will once again be set up to spotlight work from Osceola County in grades K-12. The student sidewalk chalk art display will be located nearby.
Various food vendors will be on hand. Live entertainment at various times of the day will feature soloists, children’s groups, the Osceola Center for the Arts Big Band and student and faculty groups from Valencia Community College.
Last year’s attendance was estimated at between 10,000 and 12,000 people for the two-day event and more are expected this year, Davidson said.
“The festival is free and open to the public,” she said. “Even if people don’t have a budget for new artwork in their home or business, we look forward to having them come meet the artists and see their work.”