ArtFest Fort Myers awarded $7,400 in prizes to Lee County high school students at the Art Under 20 Award Reception, held at the Harborside Event Center on February 29th.

At this season’s Art Under 20, proudly sponsored by Suncoast Credit Union, local high school students representing 18 Lee County high schools entered 293 pieces of artwork. The student art was exhibited at the fine art festival the first weekend in February and was previewed by thousands of festival patrons. Art Under 20 judges, Janice Grau and Todd Babb had the difficult task of selecting the winners from among many talented students. Mr. Greg Pasanen, Suncoast Credit Union Regional Vice President, presented the award checks to the winning students.
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5K. Run or walk, race or fun. At the one and only ArtFest Fort Myers.

When announcing Publix Run to the Arts Sharon McAllister, ArtFest Fort Myers’ Executive Director said “This is so much more than any ordinary 5K. Publix Run To The Arts brings together the best that life has to offer: health and fitness, arts and culture, friends and family, and the scenic beauty of the Fort Myers waterfront. In our view it is all about quality of life in our community”.

Publix Run to the Arts isn’t just a race, it’s a full morning of fun that kicks off Sunday morning at ArtFest Fort Myers with exceptional art, entertainment, and children’s art activities. Runners and their guests will enjoy live music and be the first to sneak a peek at the artist booths on Sunday morning, even before the festival opens to the public.  Join the fun as fabulous artists invite runners to exercise their creativity and create a group art piece.

Post-race festivities include a scrumptious breakfast, an interactive “public” art creation, race awards, live entertainment, fabulous door prizes, and much more. Take part in a new Fort Myers tradition – participate in the Publix Run To The Arts!

Publix Run To The Arts registration fee guarantees a spot in the race as well as all of these runners-only goodies:

• Run to the Arts t-shirt, with beautiful art by ArtFest Fort Myer artist, Callie Gray.  Register by January 4th to reserve your size!
• Post-race breakfast, featuring tasty Publix treats – muffins & bagels with all the trimmings; bananas; yogurt; coffee and a few surprises.
• Medals will be given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each age group, plus special awards for male and female overall, masters, grand masters, and senior masters.
• Door prizes including weekends for two at South Seas Resort, Inns of Sanibel; running gear; Theater and symphony tickets; Art classes; gift certificates for great meals and excursions and so much more.
• Free runners-only parking will be available at West First Street and Carson Street. Park all day and enjoy ArtFest!
• Professional bib timing services by Endurance Sports Timing, provides results posted as soon as the race is finished.

Publix Run To The Arts welcomes non-runners as race day volunteers! All volunteers will get a cool Publix Run To The Arts staff shirt, breakfast on race day, raffle entry, and preferred parking.

Run to the Arts is made possible by the generous support of Publix, a 13 year sponsor of ArtFest Fort Myers, who is carrying on its tradition of being the kind of company a community can count on. Publix invites you to start your day with an invigorating run or walk and a healthy breakfast … then feed your mind and spirit at ArtFest Fort Myers.

ArtFest Fort Myers, the annual juried fine art festival, takes place February 5, 6 & 7, 2016 in the Fort Myers River District. Join the experience with 215 professional artists from across the county and around the world; the largest high school art exhibit and competition in south Florida and free interactive art experiences for children of all ages.

 

For more information visit RunToTheArts.com or connect with the race or the art festival on Facebook  and Linkedin   #artfestfm

What: ArtFest Fort Myers 16^th annual downtown Fort Myers juried fine art festival showcases the work of 215 artists and also includes great food; continuous entertainment; free interactive children’s art experiences; Chalk Block, a sidewalk chalk competition; and Art Under 20, the largest high school art competition in Southwest Florida.

Festival Dates: February 6 & 7, 2016

Opening Night, Friday, February 5th

How: Apply on-line ArtFestFortMyers.com

Application Deadline: September 14, 2015

ArtFest Fort Myers, Southwest Florida’s premier fine art festival, is currently accepting applications from professional artists for participation in our 2016 juried show. Featuring the work of 215 artists, ArtFest Fort Myers will bring 85,000 art lovers and collectors to the largest outdoor gallery in Southwest Florida on the first weekend in February!

Why apply to participate at ArtFest Fort Myers? Our year-round professional staff is dedicated to creating an artwork-selling festival for all artists. We provide great artist amenities to ensure that our artists are stress free and ready to share their work with our dedicated attendees. We promote our event extensively throughout Southwest Florida and beyond, reaching patrons from Marco Island to Sarasota and east to West Palm Beach.

All artwork exhibited must be created solely by the displaying artists. Artist entries are accepted in 16 categories: Ceramics, Digital, Drawing, Fiber, Glass, Jewelry, Metal, Mixed Media 2-D, Mixed Media 3-D, Painting-Watercolor, Painting-Oil/Acrylic, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, Wearable and Wood. Artists are selected to participate by an independent jury panel of art professionals, who score submitted images on artistic conception, originality and workmanship. Cash prizes totaling $5,000 will be awarded to participating artists at the fine art festival. For more details on the application process, visit ArtFestFortMyers.com

ArtFest Fort Myers works year-round to produce a creative community celebration that also includes:

• Publix Art Yard, an interactive arts/crafts area for children, including a “children only” shopping gallery and youth stage performances
• Art Under 20, an exhibition and competition for Lee County high school students, offering cash awards
• Chalk Block, a weekend high school sidewalk chalk competition mentored by professional chalk artists (sponsored by Truly Nolen Pest Control.)
• VIP Experience for loyal art patrons who wait all year to make art purchases with us

For Artist Application information, contact ArtFest Fort Myers at 239-768-3602, email info@ArtFestFortMyers.com or visit our website at ArtFestFortMyers.com.

ArtFest Fort Myers partnered with the Pine Island service organization, The Matlacha Hookers, to purchase art supplies for Pine Island Elementary School for the 2015/2016 school year. “This is a wonderful example of how members of a community can work together toward a common goal,” explains Sharon McAllister, ArtFest Executive Director. “The Matlacha Hookers volunteer their time, over festival weekend, to staff our beverage booths. Their invaluable service is translated into a $1,600 cash donation from ArtFest Fort Myers to help fund Pine Island Elementary School’s art supplies in the upcoming school year.”

ArtFest Fort Myers, southwest Florida’s premier art festival is February 5, 6 & 7, 2016 in downtown Fort Myers along the riverfront. For more information www.ArtFestFortMyers.com

February 7 & 8, 2015

Contact: Sharon McAllister, Festival Director

239-768-3602

Email: Sharon.McAllister@ArtFestFortMyers.com

www.ArtFestFortMyers.com

ArtFest Fort Myers Presents $7,500 in Cash to Lee County High School Students.

ArtFest Fort Myers awarded $7,500 in prizes to Lee County high school students at the Art Under 20 Award Reception, held on the Florida Southwestern State College campus, on February 12th.

At this season’s Art Under 20, local high school students, from 14 Lee County high schools and one home school entered 310 pieces of artwork. The student art was exhibited at the fine art festival and was previewed by thousands of festival patrons. Art Under 20 judges, Barbara Fewster and Michael Shapirohad the difficult task of selecting the winners from among many talented students.

Awards were given in the categories of Digital, Drawing, Photography, Painting, 3-Dimensional and Mixed Media. The cash award levels were $900 for Best of Show, $400 for First Place, $200 for Second Place, $100 for Third Place and $50 for Honorable Mention. Festival attendees voted for the People’s Choice winner, resulting in a $300 cash award. Through the generosity of the Fewster family, the Fewster Family Scholarship Award was $500. The Ikki Matsumoto Award was $500. New this season, the Bruce Tyson AIA Award was $100.

Listed below are the Art Under 20 Award Winners followed by the name of their high school:

BEST OF SHOW: Gracie Wright, Cape Coral High School

PHOTOGRAPHY
1^st: Brian Viaes, Riverdale High

2^nd: Kelsey Andrews, Island Coast High

3^rd: Victoria Clavero, Island Coast High

PAINTING

1^st: Nadeshka Ramirez, Cypress Lake High

2^nd: Peyton Hornung, Canterbury School

3^rd: Madison Brewer, Cypress Lake High

DRAWING

1^st: Stephanie Dickey, Fort Myers High

2^nd: Jennifer Gravitt, Estero High

3^rd: Fiona Dowling, Fort Myers High

3-DIMENSIONAL

1^st: Bryton Garbus, North Fort Myers High

2^nd: Kevin Tidroski, North Fort Myers High

3^rd: Kathryn Diaz, South Fort Myers High

MIXED MEDIA

1^st: Tylia Battle, Riverdale High

2^nd: Paola Sheherezerde, Cypress Lake High

3^rd: Natalee Marquez, South Fort Myers High

DIGITAL

1^st: Gracie Heath, Evangelical Christian School

2^nd: Edwin Gamboa, Island Coast High

3^rd: Carina Favale, Fort Myers High

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: Abbie Lewis, Canterbury School

FEWSTER FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP AWARD: Joanna Garcia, Lehigh High

IKKI MATSUMOTO AWARD: Avion Hines, South Fort Myers High

BRUCE TYSON AIA AWARD: Diana Rodriguez, Cypress Lake High

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

1. Kimberly Smith, Lehigh High
2. Christopher Ochoa, Riverdale High
3. Jazmyn Jenkins, Cape Coral High
4. Bernardo Vara Trujillo, Estero High
5. Elmer Huezo, Oasis Charter School
6. Nikita Singh, Canterbury School
7. Rocklyn Turano, Riverdale High
8. Caroline Henning, Canterbury School
9. Chelsey Rios, Cypress Lake High
10. Isaiah Brown, North Fort Myers High
11. Iffatara Smaran, Island Coast High
12. Alice Fabela, Mariner High
13. Evalena Sabella, Riverdale High
14. Nikki Mageropoulos, Riverdale High
15. Kaktherine Mann-Mok, Estero High
16. Allie Stefanick, Canterbury School
17. Haley De Yulus, Estero High
18. Katie Taylor, Lehigh High
19. Ann Casey, Mariner High
20. Antonia Vertichio, Island Coast High

Why not do it “in style” this season and join the VIP Experience, as ArtFest Fort Myers celebrates their 15^th anniversary! Ron Bucher, Vice President, Investments at Raymond James, looks forward to welcoming you to a weekend of all things artfully pampered, from the elite Friday Night Opening VIP Party to your weekend festival get away at the VIP Terrace.

Begin Friday evening, February 6, 2015 with special parking reserved just for you and then join us at the VIP Tent on Opening Night. Delectable food from some of our area’s finest restaurants, great wine and craft beers are just the beginning, as the evening also includes an extraordinary sampling of 70 festival artists and surprise performances.

Over festival weekend, your VIP Experience includes reserved parking adjacent to the festival site, exclusive access to our VIP Terrace with complimentary mid-day lunch, all-day beverages and the very special gift of a commemorative festival poster. “I am so proud to be a sponsor of this wonderful event,” explains Ron Bucher., returning for his 12^th season with the festival. “The arts continue to form and define our community and give us a competitive edge with regard to our quality of life.”

The VIP Experience is $75 per person and your support contributes to the year-round ArtFest Fort Myers’ art education outreach programs. To enjoy the ArtFest Fort Myers VIP Experience and our 215 artists as a Very Important Patron visit Upgrade To VIP at ArtFestFortMyers.com or call 239-768-3602.

ArtFest Fort Myers, the annual juried fine art festival, takes place February 6, 7 & 8, 2015 in the Fort Myers River District. Join the experience with 215 professional artists from across the county and around the world; the largest high school art exhibit and competition in south Florida and free interactive art experiences for children of all ages.

For more information visit ArtFestFortMyers.com – Like Us on Facebook  – Connect with us on Linkedin  #artfestfm

ArtFest Fort Myers, Southwest Florida’s premier fine art festival, is seeking volunteers to help make the 15^th anniversary of this award winning festival the very best ever. “Volunteers are critical to the success of our event, ” explains Ethel Willis, Volunteer Coordinator. “Each volunteer works a four hour shift and can choose to help with the professional artists, sell commemorative shirts and posters, assist in the children’s Art Yard, welcome our VIP’s or select one of dozens of other volunteer assignments. We encourage our volunteers to pick an area that they are interested in and there is no experience required. We provide the training and, thanks to our Volunteer Sponsor Lee County Electric Cooperative, a beautiful festival t-shirt to wear!”

Signing up to volunteer over ArtFest Fort Myers weekend – February 6, 7 & 8 – is as simple as visiting ArtFestFortMyers.com. Just go to the Volunteer Page and choose the available volunteer job that interests you! Your 4-hour volunteer shift truly makes a difference to the community and there is no experience required! The deadline for Volunteer Registration is coming soon, so sign up today!

Volunteer perks include reserved parking, a complimentary ArtFest Fort Myers Volunteer T-shirt, a chance to enjoy wonderful artists from across the country and to meet other great volunteers from our community!

Plan now to join ArtFest Fort Myers in the downtown Fort Myers River District as we make art come to life on February 6, 7 & 8, 2015. Enjoy the experience with 215 artists from across the county and around the world; the largest high school art exhibit and competition in south Florida and free interactive art experiences for children of all ages.

For more information visit ArtFestFortMyers.com or call 239-768-3602 – Like Us on Facebook  – Connect with us on Linkedin  #artfestfm