Award-winning fine arts festival ArtiGras will run February 13-15 at Abacoa Town Center in Jupiter. This year’s festival features a Fine Arts Area, with gallery-quality work of 300 fine artists in a wide variety of mediums; an Artist Demonstration Stage; an ArtiKids Area where young artists are invited to participate in a wide selection of interactive art activities; a Youth Art Competition Gallery; and a Tiny Treasures Children’s Art Boutique, where kids have the chance to purchase their very own fine art donated by exhibiting artists. There will also be a concessions court featuring edible offerings from around the world and an entertainment stage. For a look at the next generation of South Florida’s artistic talent, the Emerging Artists corral is a must visit.
The Emerging Artist program at ArtiGras gives local artists the chance to shine in their own backyard: it is open solely to artists who live within 60 miles of Jupiter and have never before showcased their work in a fine arts festival. This year, 12 such artists were hand-selected to participate as exhibitors at ArtiGras. Working in a wide variety of mediums, these artists take advantage of the Emerging Artist program at ArtiGras to test the waters and learn from the experience. Here’s a quick introduction to these rising stars:
Lost Souls of the Ghetto
Bill Farran of Boca Raton began uniting his love of history, Jewish genealogy and art in 1968. Needing a quick gift, he made a woodcut and framed it, and so began Lost Treasures: The Wooden Synagogues of Eastern Europe.
- Learn more about Bill and his linocuts and woodwork at billfarran.com.
Novyy Yarychiv, Ukraine
Grow Where you are Planted
Lori Axelrod, also of Boca Raton, creates colorful pieces of art (including jewelry, frames and more) from polymer clay and mixed media. Her exuberant drawings feature a medley of natural elements with simple phrases like “Take time to grow” artfully incorporated.
- Click here to heck out more of Axelrod’s work.
Mixed media flowers using polymer clay.
E.T. coffee painting.
Palm Beach Gardens self-taught artist Anthony Melois crafts paintings of familiar subjects from a not-so-familiar medium. The rich browns conveyed in his images are a product of the world’s most popular beverage: coffee!
- See more of his work on his Twitter account, @artmilouse, and his Etsy shop.
Planet of the Apes, 1968 coffee painting
Lauren and Jonathan
Marta Llorens Piqueras of Jupiter is the artistic mind behind Lady Malopi. Interested in contour drawing, which is formed by a single line without any glance at the paper on which she is working, she creates art “where colors and lines take importance.”
- Learn more about her at facebook.com/ladymalopii.
Antoni Gaudí
Jonathan Dale of Jupiter Ukulele puts his craftsmanship to work in the building of fine banjos, ukuleles, and parlor guitars with a little extra bling. Many are created from local wood, and he especially enjoys working on custom-designed projects for people with specific desires.
- See more at jupiteruke.com.
Sea Turtle
Award-winning watercolor artist Claudia Hafner of Pompano Beach describes her paintings as “colorful and loose in style.” Her subjects typically include wildlife, pet portraits, flowers, and architecture.
- For more of Hafner’s work, visit claudiahafnerwatercolor.com.
Burrowing Owls
Maxwell Jackson of Maxx’s Photography hails from Jupiter but can be found all over the state capturing images of “the stars, events and sports.” From Florida’s natural beauty to quick-moving athletes, Maxwell shoots a variety of subjects.
- See more on Jackson’s website, maxxsphotography.com.
Photos by Maxwell Jackson
Rachel Miller of Palm Beach Gardens formed Beach Bangles Jewelry as a way to share her unique handmade, custom, made-to-order wire and stone bangles.
- For more about Miller and her beaded creations, visit beachbanglesjewelry.com.
As an artist, Lisa Kawczenski of West Palm Beach creates abstract paintings in vibrant hues to capture natural beauty. As a photographer, she describes herself as “a storyteller of people, places, events, and products” who also seeks to inspire through travel and documentary photography.
- For more on Kawczenski’s abstract paintings at lisakaw.com.
Oil painter Tina Caruso of Jupiter prefers working with bold and dramatic color inspired by nature. Particularly enthralled with the daily occurrences of sunrise and sunset, she comments, “I believe that art is a divine collaboration.” Her art is a reflection of her desire to share that beauty.
Palm City resident Jari Shaktman of Claymuse focuses on wheel-thrown decorative and functional pieces. These wares are handcrafted using a variety of clay-firing practices, including Raku firing, reduction technique, and anagama kilns.
Jacob Gardner of Palm Beach Gardens first sketches his creations in pencil on canvas, then brings them to life with acrylic paints. His colorful, soulful pieces feature great thinkers and musicians enraptured in the free-flowing expression of their creativity.
- ArtiGras Fine Arts Festival runs from February 13-15.
- Festival times: Saturday and Sunday, February 13 and 14, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Monday, February 15, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets are $12 at the gate. Tickets can also be purchased in advance for a discounted price of $10 at the Gardens Mall Information Desk, the Maltz Jupiter Theatre Box Office, the Roger Dean Stadium Box Office, or online at artigras.org. Children 12 and under get in free.
- For more information, visit artigras.org.
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