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Suncoast Arts Fest arrives early for 2010
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Published: January 22, 2010
WESLEY CHAPEL Spring is still weeks away, but Pasco County will see an early burst of outdoor color as Hyundai & Mazda of Wesley Chapel hosts the fifth annual Suncoast Arts Fest.
The festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24, at The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive.
The shopping center is about 2½ miles east of I-75 on S.R. 56. As it has every year in its existence, the Suncoast Arts Fest continues to evolve and grow, getting bigger and better than the year before. It began in December 2005 as the Longleaf Fine Arts on the Village Green, with 23 fine artists from around the country and about 30 local artists.
Last year, with 85 artists, the Suncoast Arts Fest moved to the Shops at Wiregrass, where it drew about 70,000 visitors and was named the 2009 Event of the Year by the Pasco County Tourism Development Council.
Not resting on its laurels, the Fine Arts of the Suncoast, the nonprofit organization behind the Suncoast Art Fest, decided there was still room for improvement. It now has a proven location. So for this year Suncoast Art Fest changed the date, moving the festival from May to January, when there are fewer festivals competing for artists.
It is anticipated this year's festival will feature up to 120 artists and craftspeople whose work spans the spectrum of styles and media, including ceramics, clay, drawing, graphics, fiber, leather, wood, photography, digital art, printmaking, glass, jewelry, metal, sculpture and mixed media.
For a rundown of artists registered for this year's festival, including photos of their work, visit www.suncoastartsfest.com>.
Visual art alone will not be the only attraction at the festival, as 11 "Taste of Wiregrass" will promote 11 participating resident Shops at Wiregrass eateries. And as guests browse and nosh, they can also sample the live entertainment that will available throughout the weekend.
WMNF Community Public Radio, 88.5-FM, will broadcast live at the festival both days, as well as hosting the live musical acts in the shopping center's central court, with different themes every few hours.
It begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, with "The Women's Program," with Veronika Jackson and The Women's Blues Revue. At noon, LalaLand, featuring Joe Lala, takes us back to the '60s.
At 2 p.m., it's time for alternative music by The Semis. Latin jazz takes over at 4 p.m., featuring Ray Olan and his Latin Band, with Hector Mayoral from Acho Brothers on vocals. At 6 p.m. Sarasota Slim will be singing the blues.
On Sunday, local entertainment is the order of the day, leading off at 10 a.m. with Contempo Dance Group, East of Elsewhere, AmeriKinfolk, Clogging Connection, and the Mitchell High School Jazz Band. At 2 p.m. Alex Meixner will lead a polka party.
Vocalist and guitarist Colleen Hart will be the event's wandering minstrel in residence, performing at various locations at the Shops at Wiregrass throughout the weekend.
A new feature will debut at this year's event merging art and entertainment, as artists Stig Lindow, Carol Donoghue, Laurie Pinna, and Javier Sanchez will create chalk art on the sidewalk outside Macy's. Guests will be able to watch the artists as they work, creating images along the theme, "Capture your inner artistic child."
The theme is chosen to emphasize the Fine Arts of the Suncoast's primary mission and the original purpose behind the festival, to promote and support art and art education for young people in Pasco County. Every year at the event, a special container is placed where visitors are welcome to drop off new art supplies, which are donated to local public and private schools.
Proceeds from the festival are devoted to specific projects each year.
This year, the emphasis is on technology. On project in the works is the creation of a Web site geared towards showing youth where to find college degrees and training in the creative industry fields.
As it has since the beginning, the festival will include an "emerging artists" exhibition area for local high school artists to display their finest work, and an interactive kids' art area, sponsored by Tampa Bay Parenting magazine.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Suncoast Arts Festival
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday
WHERE: The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive, about 2½ miles east of Interstate 75 off State Road 56.
WHO: For a rundown of artists registered for this year's festival, including photos of their work, go to www.suncoastartsfest.com.
ENTERTAINMENT
Saturday
10 a.m., "The Women's Program," with Veronika Jackson and The Women's Blues Revue.
Noon, LalaLand, featuring Joe Lala, takes us back to the 1960s.
2 p.m., it's time for alternative music by The Semis.
4 p.m., Latin jazz takes over, featuring Ray Olan and his Latin Band, with Hector Mayoral from Acho Brothers on vocals.
6 p.m., Sarasota Slim will sing the blues.
Sunday
10 a.m., with Contempo Dance Group, East of Elsewhere, AmeriKinfolk, Clogging Connection and the Mitchell High School Jazz Band.
2 p.m., Alex Meixner will lead a polka party.
All weekend
Vocalist and guitarist Colleen Hart will be the event's wandering minstrel in residence.
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