Florida CraftArt Festival Award winners are (front from left): Karen Burden, Linda Davin, Bill May (Festival Juror), Glenn Woods and Keith Herbrand (Pottery Boys), Leslie Peebles, Leeann Kroetsch, Alice Pickett-Lewis, Karina Mago; (back from left): Larry Burden, Darlene Ferguson, Amos Amit, Don McCoy, William Kidd, Trent Manning, David Sandidge.
Awards for the 24th Annual Florida CraftArt Festival
12 of the nation’s best contemporary fine craft artists presented with $10,000 in awards
More than 15,000 people attended the 24th Annual Florida CraftArt Festival presented by the Residences at 400 Central by Red Apple Real Estate, along with a myriad of sponsors.
Bill May, the former Executive Director of Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, was the show’s judge, who commented, “I’ve been to many shows as a juror, as well as an artist, and this festival stands out as one of the best. The fine craft art is extraordinary and I could have given awards to many of these juried artists. Their creations enhance the lives of people whether it be enjoying a cup of coffee from a handmade cup, wearing handcrafted jewelry, sporting a fiber garment or relaxing on well-designed furniture.”
Of the 87 artists from 13 states, 12 were awarded a total of $10,000. Glenn Woods and Keith Herbrand, known as The Pottery Boys, won the show’s top prize of $3,000 for Best of Show. The Directors’ Award was given to Leslie Peebles for her woodcuts in the Mixed Media category. Additional awards were presented as follows: Awards of Excellence went to Amos Amit (Fiber), Leeann Kroetsch (Fiber), Don McCoy (Jewelry), and David Sandidge (Glass). Awards of Merit were given to: Larry and Karen Burden (Wood), Linda Davin (Jewelry), Darleen Ferguson (Glass), Trent Manning (Mixed Media), William Kidd (Ceramics), Alice Pickett-Lewis (Fiber).
Long dedicated to engaging and mentoring the next generation of fine craft artists, Florida CraftArt again featured the talents of eight emerging artists (representing ceramics and mixed media) with the support of the DMG School Project. Showing and selling their work at the festival alongside the nation’s best fine craft artists, each Emerging Artist received a free booth, professional photography session with Brian James, postcards, and the opportunity to show and sell their work at the annual festival. Among those presented with awards this year was Emerging Artist Karina Mago. In addition to the DMG School Project, additional Emerging Artists sponsors were Mark Anderson and Keith Bucklew, Concierge Financial Organization, Michael and Andrea Graham, Kathryn Howd and Edward Rucks, Tyler Jones, Duncan McClellan Gallery, David and Becky Ramsey, Elizabeth Reilinger, and Barbara Sansone.
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The $3,000 check Best of Show was awarded to the Pottery Boys, Glenn Woods pictured here with FCA Board President Tyler Jones.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 20, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 21, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
501 Central Avenue and 5th Street in Downtown St. Petersburg
The weekend before Thanksgiving
The 24th Annual Florida CraftArt Festival on Saturday, November 20 and Sunday, November 21, 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 a kids’ art activity tent. The two-day festival kicks off the Holiday shopping season and features handmade works in ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, mixed media and wood.
Florida CraftArt Festival 2021 will be located just outside Florida CraftArt Gallery, at the crossroads of Central Avenue and 5th Street in Downtown St. Petersburg. The Residences at 400 Central – Red Apple Real Estate is the Presenting Sponsor. Duncan McClellan Gallery is the sponsor of the kids’ activities and children will enjoy creating crafts taught by members of the Tampa Bay Surface Design Guild.
Judge Bill May, the former Executive Director of Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, will award $10,000 in cash awards to the artists on Sunday morning. 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.
Florida CraftArt Festival will showcase the talents of eight emerging artists with the support of the DMG School Project, as Florida CraftArt engages and mentors the next generation of fine craft artists. Emerging Artists receive a free booth, photography, postcards and the opportunity to show and sell their work. Those sponsoring the artists are Mark Anderson and Keith Bucklew, Concierge Financial Organization, Michael and Andrea Graham, Kathryn Howd and Edward Rucks, Tyler Jones, David and Becky Ramsey, Elizabeth Reilinger, and Barbara Sansone.
This project is sponsored in part by the Florida Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council of Arts and Culture, the State of Florida and the National Endowment for the Arts. (Section 286.25, Florida Statutes).
Sponsors
Artists in the 2021 Florida CraftArt Festival
Ceramics
Robin Bloom, Sarasota, FL
Beth Garcia, Lakeland, FL
William Kidd, St. Petersburg, FL
Carol Kohnke, St. Petersburg, FL
Alyssa Ligmont, North Lauderdale, FL
Jeannie Papadopoulos, Ocala, FL
Suzy Pease, Gulfport, FL
Janice Pronko, Punta Gorda, FL
Harry Welsch, Lutz, FL
Andrew Wender, Placida. FL
Glenn Woods. Palm Harbor, FL
Fiber
Amos Amit, Los Angeles, CA
Billie Barthelemy, Pinewood, MN
Kate Beck, New Orleans, LA
Gayle Foshee-Naughton, St. Petersburg, FL
Donna Harris, Winter Park, FL
Leeann Kroetsch, Tampa, FL
Alice Pickett Lewis, Gulfport, FL
Robert Stadnycki, Fort Myers, FL
Dawn Waters, Gulfport, FL
Glass
Steve Brewster,Poteau, OK
Darlene Ferguson, Hernando Beach, FL
Julie Krueger, Safety Harbor, FL
Joan Milbrandt, Okeechobee, FL
David Sandidge, Clermont, FL
John Shearman, Lakewood Ranch, FL
Paul Willsea, Naples, NY
Mary Ann Ziegler, Largo, FL
Jewelry
Obayana Ajanaku, Decatur, GA
Marc Aune, St. James City, FL
Charles Bahringer, Clearwater, FL
Karen Brandon, Tampa, FL
Linda and Carl Caristo, Asheville, NC
William Carlie, St. Petersburg, FL
Nicola Cursley, Dunedin, FL
Lisa Davin, Delray Beach, FL
Dianna Dinka, Tamarac, FL
Samantha Freeman, Ocala, FL
Lynn Hardesty, Clearwater, FL
Diana Hirschhorn, Bradenton, FL
Katherine Kaya, Sarasota, FL
Mary Lee, Tallahassee, FL
Kristie MacGregor, Montrose, CO
Lorrie Mason, Tampa, FL
Don McCoy, Englewood, FL
Maureen Shankey, St. Petersburg, FL
Kim Tatalick, St. Petersburg, FL
Wendy Thurlow, Bradenton, FL
Michael Vagner, Eugene, OR
Jessica Weiss, Knoxville, TN
Metal
Eric Folsom, Gulfport, FL
Elizabeth Lemoine, Hernando Beach, FL
Mixed Media
Dale Cantrell, Danville, IN
Kate Carney, Sanford, FL
Jerry Colson, St. Petersburg, FL
Joyce Curvin, Palm Harbor, FL
Javier Dones, St. Petersburg, FL
Debo Groover, Tallahassee, FL
Janna Kennedy, St. Petersburg, FL
Kevin Knittel, Wesley Chapel, FL
Sandy MacNeill, St. Petersburg, FL
Trent Manning, Winter Haven, FL
Larry Maynard, Redington Shores, FL
Wayne Gao & Michelle Chang, Rowland Heights, CA
Anne Ross Oliva, Ormond Beach, FL
Cindy Hirt Pardue, Hawthorne, FL
Leslie Peebles, Gainesville, FL
Michael Thiele, Flagstaff, AZ
Sculpture
Terry Andrews, Ocala, FL
John Formato, Depew, NY
Randy Pardue, Hawthorne, FL
Wood
Larry Burden, Beverly Hills, FL
Timothy Carter, Ormond Beach, FL
Victor Edwards, Monticello, FL
John Mascoll, Safety Harbor, FL
Richard McCollum, Ft. Pierce, FL
Nick Reale, St. Petersburg, FL
Greg Thomas-Moore, Deltona, FL
Leslie Young, Daytona Beach, FL
Artist Eligibility
Florida CraftArt Festival 2021 features juried fine craft artists. ‘Fine craft art’ is defined as quality original artwork created by the artist in the mediums of clay, fiber, glass, metal, jewelry, mixed media and wood. Paintings, drawings, photography and/or commercially-made works are not eligible.
2021 Juror: Bill May, Retired Executive Director, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts
JUROR AWARDS:
$10,000 in awards will be selected by the juror and awarded based on the quality of the artist’s body of work regardless of media. Pledged Collectors’ Choice Purchase Awards will be distributed during the Florida CraftArt Festival 2021. Final decisions concerning awards are at the sole discretion of the juror:
• One (1) $3,000 Best of Show
• Four (4) $1,000 Awards of Excellence
• Six (6) $500 Awards of Merit
Sponsorship Opportunities
SPONSORSHIPS benefit Florida CraftArt and its mission for year-round free art programming for exhibitions, education and community outreach.
INTERACTIVE FEATURES: Children’s Activity Tent, Artists’ Demo Tent
LOCATION: The crossroads of Central Avenue and 5th Street in St. Petersburg, Florida covering several city blocks in the heart of downtown
Collectors’ Circle
Join the Collectors’ Circle and support fine craft artists and do your holiday shopping or add to your collection! Art enthusiasts support the Annual Florida CraftArt Festival with purchase awards and enjoy lectures, collection visits and get togethers.
Emerging Artist Program
Florida CraftArt is proud to continue the tradition of an Emerging Artist Program at Florida CraftArt Festival 2021.
Artists who have never had a major show or participated in an outdoor festival can apply to participate in the event as an Emerging Artist.
The Florida CraftArt Festival juror will judge and best Emerging Artist Ribbon Award will be presented.
Emerging Artist Applications are closed for 2021
