Judges

Top-Notch Judges Bring International Expertise

Independent judges for the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, who come from across the country, are selected for their in-depth knowledge of and experience in multiple art media. In October, they reviewed digital images from all applicants to select the festival’s artists and wait-list artists. During the festival, the same panel reviews the work of the exhibitors to determine those considered eligible for awards. Awards are presented solely at the discretion of the judges.

MICHAEL GAINES

Hannibal, Missouri Gaines considers himself

an accidental arts administrator. Returning to Missouri after living abroad, he entered the art world through a nonprofit leadership position in his hometown of historic Bethel, Missouri, where his programming experience centered upon folk art and traditions.

This ignited a passion in Gaines for what the arts add to communities and how communities can thrive when the arts are at their core.

At first, Gaines thought the opportunity to move to “America’s Hometown” of Hannibal, Missouri, was a stepping stone — but he has been executive director of the Hannibal Arts Council since 1993 and hasn’t looked back. Since 2005, he has served as executive director of the Missouri Association of Community Arts Agencies. And he proudly serves as board advisor for the Missouri Artisans Association, also known as Best of Missouri Hands.

Gaines is an avid art collector with more than 300 2-D and 200 3-D works in his collection.

LAWRENCE W. OLIVERSON

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Oliverson has an extensive

background in the world of art festivals and the arts. As an exhibitor, he is an internationally active artist whose fine-art medium is photography. By invitation, he has traveled three times to Cuba to work with the Cuban photographic community. He also assisted International Arts & Crafts Promotions, the nonprofit producer of the first Yokohama International Open-Air Art Fair. He was keynote speaker at the first event and has held three exhibitions in Japan.

As director of the Global Artist Exchange, Oliverson arranged for five Chinese artists to exhibit at the Lakefront Festival of Arts at the Milwaukee Art Museum. He has been an invited speaker at the International Festival and Events Association.

He has served on the exhibition committee and the board of trustees at the Milwaukee Art Museum, and well as president of the museum’s Friends of Art and co-chair of its Lakefront Festival of Arts.

As president of the National Association of Independent Artists, he served as an advocate for the needs of artists, organized and presided over numerous director conferences and was instrumental in the development of ZAPP, the leading on-line application system used by art events nationwide.

He has been an advisor and consultant to numerous events on various aspects of show production.

JENNIFER PERLOW

Denver, Colorado Perlow has 20 years of ex-

perience in the arts — most recently through PS Gallery, H&P Consultants and Lewis Graham Art Consultants. She’s now founding Principal of PS Art Consulting, where she helps clients bring their spaces to life by finding art for them. Through her passion for the arts, Perlow has built a national network of artists through which she can find whatever her clients are seeking to create exceptional spaces. Her degree in psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia helps her to develop trusting relationships with both artists and clients.

Perlow is a dedicated advocate for the arts and has served on numerous art-related boards. She has juried various national festivals and shows over the last 20 years, including Madeley National Juried Show, Des Moines Art Festival, Sausalito Art Festival, Western Spirit Art Show, St. Louis Art Festival and the Cherry Creek Arts Festival. n