BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
Art in the street — Artist's tents line Woodland Boulevard during the 2007 DeLand Fall Festival of the Arts. This year's event will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 22 and 23. More than 200 artists will display and sell original works.
BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
Featured artist — This year's featured artist for the DeLand Fall Festival of the Arts is Sheila Crawford. She is pictured here at the 2008 signature art unveiling.
PHOTO COURTESY RUSTY HAMIL
Art in all forms — Musician and Fall Festival favorite Lauris Vidal performs with bass player Patrick Ruffner in Pioneer Park during the 2006 DeLand Fall Festival of the Arts. Like many of the acts on this year's playbill, Vidal is no stranger to the annual event. This year, Lauris Vidal and his Warm Guns, featuring Dan Walters on bass and Billy Dean on drums, will perform at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, in Pioneer Park. Listen to Vidal's music at www.myspace.com/laurisvidal.
PHOTO BY DAVID FITHIAN COURTESY OF SHERRILL SCHOENING
Island Memories — Local artist Sherrill Schoening is pictured with her original dye-on-silk piece Island Memories. Schoening, who has been showing her work in galleries and festivals for 30 years, will be exhibiting at this year's DeLand Fall Festival of the Arts, her 13th year on the festival roster. Schoening is looking forward to showing her latest works, "The Tropivintage Series." "This series is for our sheer enjoyment. It's about escape from the mundane," she said. View her work at www.tropicalsilks.com.
posted Nov 14, 2008 - 2:38:38pm
One of the most anticipated annual events in West Volusia is the DeLand Fall Festival of the Arts. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 22-23, Downtown DeLand will become a canvas for artists in every form.
Now in its 16th year, the Fall Festival of the Arts will once again bring art, music, literature, dance and community together in celebration. DeLand estimates the event will bring 40,000 to 60,000 visitors to town.
Along Woodland Boulevard, eventgoers can admire and purchase artwork from more than 200 artists representing a variety of mediums: painting, pottery, sculpture, photography, mixed-media, glass, wood, metals, textiles and more.
Many of the artists, like Sherrill Schoening of DeLand, are festival veterans. This will be her 13th year exhibiting her dye-on-silk pieces, and she is looking forward to it.
"The DeLand Fall Festival is one of my favorites, because the show committee and the community treat us so well," Schoening said.
The festival comes together through the cooperation, dedication and hard work of more than 50 volunteers, art patrons and sponsors. The committee is headed by Fall Festival President Mary Beth Harris.
Harris has been a volunteer with the festival for eight years; 2008 will be her second year as president.
"It's incredible; many of our volunteers have been with the festival since its inception," she said.
Another draw of the festival is the musical entertainment. Entertainment Chairman Rusty Hamil has been booking live performers for the festival for 14 years.
"There's something about the vibe and atmosphere of people enjoying themselves," he said.
The music lineup includes a high caliber of artists, tapping into the local and national scene to bring players like Magda Hiller, Sam Pacetti, Mark Hodgson, Lauris Vidal and his Warm Guns, Ben Prestage, Dish, The Cook Trio and others.
This year's main stage will be at Pioneer Park, while strolling performers will be seen and heard throughout Downtown DeLand.
"I love the art, and the music has always been unbelievable," Hiller said. The well-known singer and songwriter has been performing at the event for 10 years. "It's a small town, but this festival is the highest quality."
DeLand Artisan Inn will once again host the Youth Art portion of the festival. Art by students in Volusia County schools will be on display inside, while outside, youth can participate in hands-on projects. There will also be an outdoor stage where youth performers and belly dancers will entertain.
Woodland Boulevard through Downtown DeLand will close to traffic at 6 a.m. Saturday and reopen at 9 p.m. Sunday.
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