Springfest brings fine art to Holmes Beach

The Anna Maria Island Art League’s Springfest Festival of Fine Arts and Fine Crafts was a big hit last weekend in Holmes Beach.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH - The Anna Maria Island Art League brought together talented local, regional and out-of-state artists to compete for awards in the 2023 Springfest Festival of Fine Arts and Fine Crafts juried art show at City Field in Holmes Beach on March 18-19.

Although they no longer have a physical location on the Island, the Art League remains heavily involved in promoting the arts on AMI and working to bring out the best in community artists, including school children from the area.

“This year, we wanted to feature the children’s art,” Art League member Gale Tedhams said. “We had 11 schools participate this year, and exactly 100 pieces of art. We put the children’s art in about

20 different businesses on the Island for about three weeks before the festival.”

It wasn’t just school children that participated in this show, which is a juried show, meaning members of the Art League took submissions in advance and then voted on who would be participating this year, the festival’s 35th year. Unlike many art-related events on the Island, Springfest doesn’t allow any vendor space for businesses unless they strictly deal in and make art.

“Our mission is to promote all the arts, not just paintings, but performing arts like dance and even promoting women’s wellness, because wellness and art go hand and hand,” Tedhams said. “We’re also working with some of the community members to get more public art, like murals in the community.”

The winners of this year’s Springfest are: Jay Canterbury, Best in Show, photography; Michael Oertle, Award of Merit, oil painting; Kelly Williamson, Award of Merit, clay; Jean Murray, Award of Merit, clay; Jimmy Chasey,

Award of Distinction, photography; and Kent Webb, Award of Distinction, photography.

Student Winners

High School

First place: Rabehe Testa, Grade 10, Lakewood Ranch;

Second place: Christian Ocegueda, Grade 10, Lakewood Ranch;

Third place: Ahlany Garcia, Grade 11, Lakewood Ranch.

Middle School

First place: Nina Zhang, Grade 7, Haile;

Second place: Owen Lockaby, Grade 7, Haile;

Third place: Ahmya Randall, Grade 8, Haile.

Grades 4, 5, 6 Ken Miyah Turner, Grade 5, Rowlette Academy; Sophia Comfort, Grade 4, Stewart Elementary; Austin Beasley, Grade 4, Rowlette Academy.

Grades K-3

Ethan Patel, Grade 3, Virgil Mills Elementary; Zeph Walden, Grade 3, Myakka Elementary; Isela Perez, Grade 2, Myakka Elementary.

Jay

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Chamber scholarships awarded this week

The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Award winners will be announced at the business card exchange on Thursday, March 23 at LaPensee Plumbing, Pools and Air, 401 Manatee Ave. in Holmes Beach from 5-7 p.m. The cost to attend is $5 for members and $10 for prospective members. Beverages and light bites will be served as chamber members celebrate three high school students as scholarship winners. To RSVP, call 941-778-1541 or email info@amichamber.org.

Silver Community Center to hold book sale, bingo game

The Annie Silver Community Center in Bradenton Beach will hold its next book sale on Saturday, March 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Center membership is not required to take part in the sale, just stop by the center at 103 23rd St. N. Bingo is scheduled on Thursday, March 23 at 6 p.m. with pizza, coffee and soft drinks available. Proceeds from these events benefit this 501(c)(3) non-profit community organization.

Help keep water clean

Holmes Beach city leaders and members of the city’s Clean Water Committee are launching a new initiative to help area residents and visitors learn what they can do to improve the quality of natural waterways in and around Anna Maria Island. The initiative is called Islanders 4 Clean Water and features 10 ways that people can change their lives in small ways to make a big impact on the health of local waterways. Some of the suggestions include eliminating the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, conserving fresh water and reducing the usage of single-use plastics. To learn more about the initiative, visit www.holmesbeachfl. org/interactive/islanders4cleanwater.