Melbourne, FL – November 17, 2012 – Artworks of Eau Gallie hold their annual fine arts festival each year the weekend before Thanksgiving. This year brought approximately 70 painters and artisans to the streets of Eau Gallie to showcase their paintings, jewelry, pottery and other fine arts. The weather was great with sunny skies and midday temperatures in the low 70s. Even thought I have lived in Melbourne area of Florida since 2003, I have never been to this festival. This event was very small when compared to the Mount Dora or the city of Melbourne art festival. Even though it is a small show, I found a good assortment of all types of artist. I especially like some of the photographers, Art Deco sculptors, and watercolor painters.
Lori Pitten Jenkins: She is a watercolor artist who works in bold colors. She grew up in Indialantic, Florida and draws her watercolor works from the treasures of Florida. She is member of the Florida Watercolor and Southern Watercolor Societies.
Nels Johnson: Nels is a great photographer who lives in Ybor City, FL during the winter and Saugatuck, MI in the summer. I especially like his Key West photos. He has been shooing photos of Key West since 1977.
David Burton: It is hard for me to classify David Burton because he is an artist with many different abstract styles. I especially like his 3-dimensional artwork where he integrates plastic toys into his pieces. His totally black artwork is a standout. David travels all over America showing his artwork at many notable festivals and fairs. He is from Hartford and Pittsburgh and now lives in Indialantic Beach Florida.
Dustin Cole: Dustin is an artist who crafts saltwater works of art entirely in wood. His wall sized wood sculptures of saltwater fish are just amazing. He lives in Tampa, Florida and can be reached via his Facebook page.
Brett Pigon: Brett is a scientist by trade and an oil paint artist as a side profession. Many of his works of art are of family members, landscapers, dogs, cats, and of Florida wildlife. He joined the Melbourne Art Guild in 2009. If you visit his web site you will find a page of his Fabulous Fakes. There are reproductions of famous artwork has copied.
Kirk Dodd: Do you know what High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography is? Well I did not until I saw that artwork Kirk Dodd creates. In simple terms, HDR photography takes multiple photographs of the same subject by taking multiple pictures at different exposure levels and intelligently stitching them together to produce a picture that is representative in both dark and bright areas (Wikipedia). Kirk has mastered this photographic technique. The photographs he brought to the festival were stunning.
Ed Volonnino: I saved Ed for last because he is a mainstay Along the Space Coast when you think of Tiki carvings. Ed is Ed Heads Tikis. He started his Tiki carving craft back in 1978. Today he Brevard County’s favorite son when it comes to Tiki carvings. He has been written up so many times in central Florida newspapers I have lost count. You can fine him almost any weekend at carving and singing at Squid Lips restaurant on the Indian River in Eau Gallie as he sings from time to time with the Tree Frogs.
Each of these artists was just a few that caught my eye as I enjoyed the 16th Annual Eau Gallie Fine Arts Festival. Remember to mark your 2013 calendar for the weekend before Thanksgiving for next year’s festival.
So until next time, be safe in the sun and have a great day in the great outdoors.