Jewish Press of Pinellas County

Temple’s longtime art festival keeps reinventing itself





A photograph by artist Richard Auger

A photograph by artist Richard Auger

The 46th annual Art Festival Beth-El in St. Petersburg will once again feature the high quality art that has helped the event gain a reputation as one of the premier art shows in the Southeast, but this year there will be a new feature – a panel discussion on the business of art.

Since its inception in 1973, when it featured only 20 artists and just one gallery, the festival has grown in size and stature. This year it will showcase more than 170 national and international award-winning artists including a fair number who are new to the festival. The six galleries set up throughout the temple – indoors and outdoors – will feature original paintings, mixed-media, wood, sculpture, ceramics, glass, metal, photography and jewelry. There will also be signed, limitededition prints offered by the Syd-Entel Galleries of Safety Harbor.

This year’s event will run from Saturday, Jan. 26 through Monday, Jan. 28 at Temple Beth El, 400 Pasadena Ave. S., St. Petersburg.

A ceramic by artist Beth Garcia

A ceramic by artist Beth Garcia

Business of Art

There will be a panel discussion on “The Business of Art” by Kevin Lane, self-described “social entrepreneur” involved in local theater, restaurant and brewery operations, as well as in the Jewish community. The discussion, covering the challenges, successes, evolution and economics of art, will be held in the sanctuary on Monday, Jan. 28 at 11 a.m. Lane will interview local art professionals Bob Devin Jones, Barbara Mazer Gross, Chad Mize, and art festival exhibiting artist, Daryl Thetford. The informal chat will last about 45 minutes with a question and answer session to follow. Ann Soble, festival co-chair, says one point of discussion will be on how the internet has affected the art business.

Also new to the festival this year will be this year’s judge, Bernice Chu, director of the James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art, a new addition to the downtown St. Petersburg museum scene. Chu will award more than $8,000 in prize money.

Artwork by Lisa Kattenbraker

Artwork by Lisa Kattenbraker

The art festival opens with an elegant preview session on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m. with admission of $35. This includes a gourmet cocktail reception provided by the Boyz in the Hood.

On Sunday, Jan. 27 and Monday, Jan. 28, the festival is free and open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Light lunches and snacks will be available for purchase from the temple youth group’s café on Sunday.

On Monday at 12:30 p.m. a gourmet luncheon is offered for $20, with reservations required by Jan. 24. Contact the temple to make reservations.

Along with the panel discussion at 11 a.m., there will be a docent tour at 2 p.m. This is a free tour of the show given by experienced docents with information and insight into the artists and their work. Meet at the main entrance to the social hall for the tour.

On both Sunday and Monday the festival features an “Avenue of the Shops” which is a two-day sale of inexpensive art, jewelry and crafts in the temple courtyard. A Boutique Gallery will offer fine art and fine craft at moderate prices.

Soble noted that with all the offerings, there are a variety of price points so folks could spend anywhere from $25 to $5,000. For some of the higher priced art, she said, there are patrons who come every year who plan on making their art purchases at the festival.

Keeping it fresh

Only artists who are invited to show their works can do so. Temple committee members travel to other shows and galleries to find artists worthy of an invite. There is also a website where artists can show works to the committee in hopes of being selected. Once they are selected, artists can come to the festival, but do not have to be here, as the committee takes care of displaying and selling their works.

Even artists who are popular at the show do not get a free pass to keep coming back. Soble said each year about a third of the artists are new to the festival, keeping it fresh. Art fest favorites get invites to return after a hiatus.

A yearly tradition will continue, as Art Festival Beth-El showcases selected works by talented artists from Pinellas County’s 17 public and private high schools. The festival will award scholarship money to the schools of the winning students.

Art Festival Beth-El continues to grow in popularity and now attracts more than 8,000 people from Tampa Bay and the surrounding areas. Call the temple at (727) 347-6136 for more information.


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.