DeLand Outdoor Art Festival prepares for a big crowd

By Al Everson
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Mar 16, 2009 - 9:07:49am

Promoters of the 44th annual DeLand Outdoor Art Festival are preparing for a big crowd of beauty lovers.

The Outdoor Art Festival will be 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 28-29 in Earl Brown Park, 751 S. Alabama Ave., DeLand.

After a winter of discontent and bad economic news, Patty Clausen is hopeful for a big turnout of artists and spectators.

"There's so much bad still going on in the economy right now. We want people to come and have a good time and forget about it for a couple of days," Clausen said.

The DeLand Outdoor Art Festival will blossom in Earl Brown Park on Saturday and Sunday, March 28 and 29. The spring tradition draws painters and crafters from near and far.

(Read about the Wildflower Festival March 28. The Wildflower Festival will be 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, March 28 on West Indiana Avenue. )

"One was from Hawaii," festival registrar Anna Pascoe said. She doesn't know if he's returning for 2009. "I haven't heard from him yet."

Other artists regularly come from the Carolinas and Georgia. Last year, there were about 100 exhibitors, and Pascoe would like to have as many this year.

The deadline for applying to enter the DeLand Outdoor Art Festival is March 15, but the cutoff is flexible.

"We will take them up to the last minute, if we have space," Pascoe said.

Exhibitors compete for cash prizes. Best in Show (first place) is $1,500, the Award of Excellence (second place) is $1,000, and the Award of Distinction (third place) is $750. There are also two Judge's Awards of $500 each, three Merit Awards of $350 each, three Honorable Mentions of $200 each, and a Best Display Award of $100.

Courtesy of Riverside National Bank, 10 Spectator Awards will be given to art-lovers who attend. Worth $100 each, the Spectator Awards are like door prizes. Winners are chosen by drawing names.

They don't walk away with cash in their pockets, though.

"They have to spend the money on the grounds, so the artists and crafters get a little more money," Pascoe said.

For patrons who fall in love with a piece of art but lack cash to make a purchase, there will be a sort of portable bank at the show this year.

"We have an ATM machine that is going to be there," Clausen said.

Many of the artists also accept credit cards.

The DeLand Outdoor Art Festival also features a Student Division to encourage young Rembrandts and Monets. The Student Division is sponsored each year by The Beacon and is co-sponsored this year by Art & Soul Studio in Orange City.

In addition to arts and crafts, the event will feature food and entertainment, especially a full range of music, from jazz, blues, folk and bluegrass, to big bands and gospel.

There will be art on wheels, as well. Antique cars will be on display Saturday, March 28, and "Mustang Mania" — featuring customized Ford Mustangs — is scheduled for March 29.

While Central Florida suffers from a drought and many people would welcome some rain, Clausen said the show will go on even if there is adverse weather.

"Rain or shine," she added. "We played in the rain when we were kids, and we're big kids now."

Clausen estimates last year's DeLand Outdoor Art Festival attracted approximately 20,000 people over the two days, Clausen said. She expects as big a crowd to stroll through the art-adorned park this year.

— al@beacononlinenews.com

Reader Comments

The comments posted below are posted by readers, not by The Beacon staff. These comments express the views and opinions of the authors, and not the administrators, moderators or webmaster. The comments forum is governed by these rules. Please use the report abuse link if you find offensive comments.

Comment on this article

Commenting is closed for this article.

If you would like to contribute a letter to the editor, please click here.

Did you find this story interesting or informative? Subscribe to The DeLand-Deltona Beacon to read more stories by Al Everson, along with others from our award-winning writers. Subscribe now!