Cape Coral Festival of Arts this weekend
For over three decades, the Rotary Club of Cape Coral has organized an annual festival that draws hundreds of artists and artisans from all over the country who specialize in a range of mediums.
The 32nd Annual Cape Coral Festival of Arts will take place Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. along Cape Coral Parkway, between Del Prado Boulevard South and Vincennes Boulevard. The juried show will feature 300 exhibitors, with a Best in Show and the top placers earning cash prizes.
Admission is free, and free parking is available in the public parking lots.
John Jacobsen, chairman of the 2017 Cape Coral Festival of the Arts Committee, explained that the event is one of the largest art shows in Southwest Florida and draws the highest turnout locally.
“It’s the largest special event in Lee County,” he said.
Jacobsen estimated that more than 100,000 people attended last year.
“We are expecting to have the kinds of crowds that we’ve had the last two years,” he said.
“Last year, it was much busier than any Saturday that we’ve had,” Jacobsen added.
Sunday, however, was a different matter as tornadoes rolled through the area the night before.
“We lost about 10 of the artist booths from high winds,” he said. “Several food booths blew over.”
About 105 of this year’s exhibitors are new, with the rest being repeat artists.
“There may be people who have done it before, but not last year,” Jacobsen said.
The exhibitors are coming from all across the country, from Alaska, California and New York, to Delaware, Colorado, Indiana and Florida. This year, two artists will be coming from Ontario.
“We generally have a couple from Canada,” he said.
The six categories are painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media and graphics, fine crafts, and jewelry. First, second and third place in each one will receive $500, $250 or $150, respectively.
The Best in Show winner will take home the $1,000 grand prize.
As far as the artwork, there is something for every taste and price point.
“You’re going to arts and crafts from as little as $10, up to $10,000,” Jacobsen said.
There will be prints and original works, some by professional artists who are represented in galleries nationwide. Visitors will find handcrafted children’s toys and clothes, to large sculptures and furniture.
“There’s really something for everyone to see,” he said. “And they get the added bonus of getting to meet the artisan or artist who made it and ask questions.”
The exhibitors must submit three pieces of work, and one artist is picked to be featured on the official festival poster. The 2017 poster is “Mama Cardinal” by artist Doug Lehnhardt, from Medina, Ohio.
“Each year, we try to come up with something new and compelling,” Jacobsen said. “In this case, it was a female cardinal, which I found the work to be speculator – it’s just a great eye-catching piece.”
Framed and rolled up copies of the poster will be available for purchase.
For the second time, the event will feature a Youth Art Exhibit, now called “Artway on the Parkway.” Art teachers across Lee County were invited to submit students’ work, from elementary to high school.
“It was very successful last year,” he said.
About 100 to 150 submissions were received for the inaugural event.
“We’re looking for a really good showing,” Jacobsen of this year’s participation.
The submissions will be judged, with ribbons awarded to the students.
In addition to the exhibitors, there will be a children’s area set up for families to enjoy.
Food and drinks will be for sale, with nearby restaurants ready to serve.
“This is an event that has something interesting in it for the young and the old – for every taste and every walk of life,” he said. “It is an event that is geared for the entire family.”
The festival serves as a major fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Cape Coral.
For more details on the Cape Coral Festival of Arts, visit: capecoralfestival.com.