25th Annual Florida CraftArt Festival 2022 features top artists and is free to the public
The 25th Annual Florida CraftArt Festival on Saturday, November 19 and Sunday, November 20, is a destination for tourists and local visitors to enjoy a fun-filled, visually exciting Florida weekend. Collectors and art lovers will be delighted by the creations of one hundred of the nation’s best contemporary fine craft artists from twelve states. There will be artist demonstrations, food trucks, craft beers and music. The two-day festival kicks off the Holiday shopping season and features handmade works in ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, mixed media and wood and admission is free.
Florida CraftArt Festival 2022 will be located just outside Florida CraftArt Gallery, at the crossroads of Central Avenue and 5th Street in Downtown St. Petersburg. The Presenting Sponsor is The Residences at 400 Central - Red Apple Real Estate.
“Our festival features top artists in their field, many of whom win awards at national festivals,” says Tyler Jones, FCA Board Chair. “This is a great opportunity for people to meet and talk with the artists and learn more about their work. Artists are small businesspeople and when you purchase a work of art, you are helping to support the creative economy.”
Janie Lorenz, who has managed the festival for 20 years, says, “This event is a great time to buy holiday gifts that people will cherish. Interested fine craft collectors can register for the Collectors’ Circle and commit to purchase artists’ work in advance of the festival, award their chosen artist(s) with a plaque and receive other valuable festival benefits. ” For information about the Collectors’ Circle, call Liz Cooper at (727) 821-7391.
Florida CraftArt Festival will showcase the talents of 13 emerging artists to engage and mentor the next generation of fine craft artists. Emerging Artists receive a free booth, coaching by Duncan McClellan, photography, postcards and the opportunity to show and sell their work. Those sponsoring the artists are ARTicles Art Gallery, Color Concepts Printing, Concierge Financial Organization, Michael and Andrea Graham, Kathryn Howd and Edward Rucks, Jones & Dunn Legacy Group Premier Sotheby's International Realty, Jennifer and Jeff Lovelady, Massey Law Group, DMG School Project, Duncan McClellan Gallery, David and Becky Ramsey, Barbara Sansone, Woodfield Fine Art Gallery and WUSF.
Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. In addition to the Presenting Sponsor, The Residences at 400 Central - Red Apple Real Estate, other festival sponsors are Tricera Capital, Brian James Photography, Raymond James, Regions Bank, Duke Energy, St. Pete/Clearwater International Airport, The City of St. Petersburg, State of Florida Division of Art and Culture, Tampa Bay Times and Creative Loafing. To learn more about the 24th Annual Florida CraftArt, visit FloridaCraftArt.org.
Florida CraftArt is located at 501 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg. Gallery hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Visit www.FloridaCraftArt.org or call (727) 821-7391. Fine craft art is presented in its 2,500-square-foot Florida Artists Gallery and curated exhibitions are featured in its adjacent exhibition gallery. Florida CraftArt is a nonprofit organization founded in 1951 and headquartered in St. Petersburg. Its mission is to grow the statewide creative economy by engaging the community and advancing Florida’s fine craft artists and their work. Florida CraftArt is the only statewide organization offering artists a platform to show and sell their work.
ABOUT THE JUDGE
Bill Griffith is an artist, administrator and educator who worked at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Tennessee for 34 years. He continues to exhibit in national and international venues and his ceramics are included in the collections of the Arkansas Art Center, Tennessee State Museum, Asheville Art Museum, San Angelo, CA Museum of Art and the Tokoname Cultural Museum in Japan. Griffith has been a visiting artist, juror and a workshop leader for craft schools, universities art centers and craft fairs throughout the United States. He is a recipient of a Tennessee Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship. In 2018, NCECA (National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts) awarded him the Outstanding Achievement Award for his contributions to the ceramic field.
CUTLINES: More images available on request.
1-People visit Tim Carter's Woodturning booth.jpg
Festival visitors love being able to meet and talk with the artists. Woodworking artist Tim Carter from Ormond Beach, Florida, explains his artistic process.
2- Gilbert, Dominice.jpgSt. Petersburg, Florida, artist Dominice Gilbert fashions bronze and copper into dynamic, nature-inspired sculptures.
3-Hardesty, Lynn.jpgLynn Hardesty, from Clearwater Beach, Florida, makes her intricate jewelry with the cloisonné technique.
4-Latayan, Julie, Ceramic.jpg
Julie Latayan of Edgewater, Florida, sculpts imaginative ceramics with personality.
5-Mascoll, John.jpg
John Mascoll of Safety Harbor, Florida, creates his vessels by wood turning. This year, he was presented a Smithsonian award for his work.
6-Palmer, Steve.jpg
Steve Palmer of Minnetonka, Minnesota, is a master glass artist making colorful, outstanding blown objets d'art.
7-Waters, Dawn.jpg
Dawn Waters, of Gulfport, Florida, uses a felting technique to create portraits of celebrities.
8-Woods, Glenn.jpg
Glenn Woods, of the Pottery Boys from Palm Harbor, was awarded Best of Show for ceramics in the 2021 festival last year.
Katie Deits
Chief Executive Officer
Florida CraftArt
501 Central Avenue
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Office: (727) 821-7391 Cell: (561) 351-7904
Florida CraftArt is a statewide, nonprofit organization. Our mission is to grow the statewide creative economy by engaging the community and advancing Florida’s fine craft artists and their work.