Last year’s Under the Oaks Fine Arts and Crafts Show, hosted by the Vero Beach Art Club, had the dubious honor of becoming the first major event in Vero Beach to fall victim to COVID-19, forced to shut down at the end of Day One of the three-day event.
They and the Firefighters Fair, which was to have started that same evening, were only the first of innumerable events, performances, festivals and myriad other activities that soon toppled over like dominoes.
What a difference a year makes.
The weather was glorious last weekend, and the park was flooded with artists and patrons eager to imagine some semblance of normalcy at this 70th anniversary of Under the Oaks. There were, of course, some differences from years past, as the VBAC worked to ensure as safe an environment as possible.
Precautions included widening the distance between tents and walkways, and requiring masks for vendors, volunteers and visitors. They even provided masks at the entries for those who “forgot” theirs, and hand-washing stations and sanitizers were readily available.
The mostly masked attendees (a few obstinate anti-maskers were clearly in the minority) seemed to appreciate the efforts of the VBAC and, while keeping 6 feet apart was next to impossible, did their best to remain respectful of everyone’s personal space.
What didn’t change was the quality of the show, which annually draws the best-of-the-best. Artists are selected from a juried process, reserving some spots for VBAC members, who are juried only against other members.
“The jury process was less extensive because we promised any artist who was with us last year that they could come back this year. They were given a discounted price on their booth fee to make up for the two days they lost last year. Some said they appreciated the offer, but they could not return for their own health issues or for travel concerns,” said Alicia Quinn, event co-chair with Jodi Woodall, noting that 135 of last year’s 216 artists returned this year.
“We have a full complement of artists. Some are returning artists who have been with us in the last five years, but there are some new faces and new work to see,” said Quinn, noting that some 25 percent of this year’s roughly 200 artists were either new or had not shown in the past several years.
“Many of the artists say they have more work than they normally have for the show because they’ve been very productive this last year. For many of our artists this is the first time they’re showing since our show last year. They’re excited because they have a wealth of materials and say it’s great to have an opportunity to start showing and selling again,” said Quinn, noting that many major shows have been canceled or, like the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, postponed.
“Some of our artists decided not to come because they normally do four weekend shows in a row and we were the only show on the circuit. They didn’t feel it was worth a long-distance trip for just one three-day show,” Quinn explained.
However, there were more than enough artists from all over the United States and as far away as Israel itching to get back into the swing of things.
Monetary awards, determined by a trio of out-of-town judges, were being awarded, and Quinn said that while some shows have reduced their awards, they chose not to.
“We felt that the artists have had a tough year, and we felt it was necessary to treat them properly,” said Quinn, noting that they were awarding a total of $23,000.
Categories were: Graphic; Pastel; Drawing; Collage; Printmaking and Watercolor; Jewelry; Oil and Acrylic; Photography and Digital; Pottery; Ceramics and Glass; Sculpture; Mixed Media; and Wood.
This year’s judges were Jennifer Coolidge, director of the Museum of Florida Art and executive director of the Florida Alliance of Art Education; Gregory Graham Grant, founder of the ArtQuest School; and Dana Hargrove, professor at Rollins College.
Commenting on the 60-year legacy of the show, Quinn said “it’s been something that the club has always consistently supported with good volunteer efforts. Our club members volunteer as artists and as members who just support the arts and firmly believe in providing an opportunity like this for artists. It’s the volunteers that make it work.”
Under the Oaks, the VBAC’s largest fundraiser, provides funds for local scholarships and enrichment programs that promote art through education.
For more information, visit verobeachartclub.org.
Photos by Kaila Jones
