The Holmes Great Hall at the Vero Beach Museum of Art overflowed with creativity during the 29th Annual Art by the Sea exhibition and sale presented by the Vero Beach Art Club. The judged art show featured 255 works of art from members of the club, the museum or, in many cases, both.
There were plenty of opportunities for art enthusiasts to view the works on display and discuss the various techniques and styles with the artists themselves over the course of the three-day event, which kicked off with a completely packed VIP cocktail reception Friday evening and continued Saturday and Sunday.
Participants were allowed to enter one piece of artwork, completed within the last two years and not exhibited at a previous Art by the Sea. A percentage of each sale would help support the Vero Beach Art Club and its educational outreach programs, including scholarships for high school seniors and donations of art supplies to elementary and middle schools and various art classes in Indian River County.
“This is the second largest art show, after Under the Oaks, the Vero Beach Art Club does,” explained committee chair Judy Rixom. “A lot of the same people enter each year, but we also have new members that participate.”
To ensure impartiality, an independent judge had been brought in to choose the winners of works in oil, watercolor, acrylic, mixed media, pastel/graphics, sculpture/ 3-D, film/digital photography and jewelry.
Ruth Feldman was the winner of the John Mazur Memorial Best in Show Award for her digital photograph “Favorite Things,” which captured the essence and character of the display of eclectic items. Old books and a journal, an inkwell and quill pen tell an artful story, making it easy to imagine the writer about to pen an entry in the open journal.
“This is a beautiful piece,” said former art club president Sue Dinenno. “I think this is the first time a photograph has won the Best in Show award.”
A new People’s Choice Award was added this year, with attendees casting a vote for their favorite piece. The winner was Charles Kaune for his eerily beautiful interpretation of a vulture in his pastel/graphics work “Untitled.”
The weekend of Feb. 10-12, the Vero Beach Art Club will hold Art on the Island, its annual three-dimensional art show, at the Marsh Island Clubhouse, beginning with a cocktail reception on Friday evening and continuing through Sunday.
