Meet our 2023 Judges
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Rebecca Sexton Larson
Rebecca Sexton Larson is a Tampa-based studio artist/curator working with historic and contemporary photographic processes. She graduated from the University of South Florida with degrees in Fine Arts (painting) and Mass Communications (journalism). Most recently she was Chief Curator at Art and History Museums - Maitland where she oversaw multiple historic sites and the artist residency program. Sexton Larson has been awarded three Florida Individual Artist Fellowships (1998, 2002, and 2008). In 2006, she received an Artist Enhancement Grant from the State of Florida. In 2005, she was commissioned by the City of Tampa as its Photographer Laureate. Sexton Larson's photographs are in numerous significant collections throughout the country, including Polaroid; Progressive Corporate Art; Graham Nash (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young); Polk Museum of Art (Lakeland); Cassilhaus (Durham, NC); Museum of Fine Arts (St. Petersburg); the Tampa Museum of Art (Tampa); Historical Museum (Santa Fe); and Candela Gallery (Richmond, VA). Many of her one-of-a-kind works are in private collections. Her photographs have been featured in photographic publications including The Polaroid Project by various curators, Poetics of Light: Contemporary Pinhole Photography by Eric Renner and Nancy Spencer, View Camera Magazine, Black and White Magazine, Afterimage, and others. |
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Steve Strenk
Steven Strenk is the Art Department Chair and a Visual Art Instructor for the VPA Program at Booker High School. Steven was born and raised in Buffalo, NY. Steven moved to Florida to attend Ringling College of Art + Design. Upon receiving his BFA from Ringling, he went on to earn his MFA in Painting from the University of South Florida. Steven is an artist of many mediums ranging from painting to sculpture. He draws his inspiration from his coastal environment along with a sense of playfulness. He is a member of the contemporary art collective, SArtQ. His work has been shown throughout Florida. It is also featured outside of the state and is in private collections throughout the nation. Among his many accomplishments, Steven has participated in Select Art Fair, a part of the international week-long art show Art Basel, held in Miami. In early 2014 Steven was selected as one of seven artists to participate in Sarasota Keys, an interactive music and art experience hosted in downtown Sarasota. For the past 20 years, Steven has taught at Booker VPA; he also teaches drawing at the Ringling College of Art + Design |
Art Show Contest
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Submit four digital files: three images of individual pieces of work and one image of your booth with work displayed. Images of art work and booth must be update and representative of what will be displayed. Images should not contain people or distinguishable signage.
Artists may apply for either the competitive or non-competitive category. One medium is allowed per booth. A separate application must be completed for each medium in which you would like to apply.
Co-artists may be accepted if work is produced through collaboration.
CATEGORIES/MEDIUMS
Ceramics – All original clay and porcelain work (other than jewelry) is accepted in this category. No machine-made or mass produced work is permitted. If multiple pieces of the same design are displayed each piece must be signed.
Digital Art – Any original work for which the image was executed by the artist using a computer. Work in this category must be in limited editions, signed and numbered on archival quality materials.
Drawing/Printmaking – Works created using dry media including chalk, charcoal, pastels, pencil, wax crayon, etc. or from the fluid medium of inks and washes applied by pen or brush; printed works for which the artist’s hand manipulated the plates, stones or screens and which have been properly signed and numbered as a limited edition.
Fiber – All work crafted from fibers including basketry, embroidery, weaving, leatherwork, tapestry and papermaking. This can be wearable or non-wearable. No machine tooling, machine-screened patterns or other forms of mass production are permitted. No factory produced wearable items, regardless of additional modification or enhancement by the artist, may be exhibited.
Glass – Glass works that are functional (other than jewelry) or decorative by design and are kiln formed or have been crafted by glass blowing, molding or casting. No forms of mass production are permitted.
Jewelry – All jewelry whether the work is produced from metal, glass, clay, fiber, paper, plastic or other materials must be entered in this category. No commercial casts, molds or production studio work is allowed.
Metal – Artwork created through the forging, twisting and fabricating of various metals. Includes all non-sculptural, non-jewelry works crafted from metals. No production studio work is allowed.
Mixed Media 2D – Artwork that incorporates more than one type of physical material to produce such as paint, pencil, photography, drawing, etc.
Mixed Media 3D – Artwork that incorporates more than one type of physical material to produce 3D objects.
Painting – Works created in oils, acrylics, watercolor, etc. are in this category.
Photography – Photographic prints made from the artist’s original image, which have been processed by that artist, or under the artist's direct supervision, are included in this category.
Sculpture – Three-dimensional original work done in any medium.
Wood – Original works in wood that are hand-tooled, machine-worked, turned or carved are accepted in the wood category.
WAITLIST
A waitlist will be developed based on the jury scores. Artists who do not wish to be included on the waitlist, may indicate so on their application.
IMPORTANT DATES
Application Deadline – May 20
Notification Sent – June 17
Booth Fee Due – July 22
Cancellation deadline – September 1
Set-Up - November 18
CASH AWARDS
Best of Show 2D - $2,000
Best of Show 3D - $2,000
5 Awards of Excellence - $1,000
12 Awards of Distinction - $500
Emerging Artist Award - $500
ARTIST AMENITIES
- Morning Refreshments
- Boxed Lunches
- Artist Hospitality Center
- Booth Sitting Services
JURY PROCESS
Jurying is done on a point system designed to give priority to local artists. One extra point is given for Florida artists and two for Alachua County artists. In 2021, 70 percent of Downtown Festival artists were from Florida and approximately 30 percent of these artists were from Alachua County. The jurying committee consists of qualified, local fine artists. They look for quality, originality, salability, and technical expertise.
PURCHASE AWARD PROGRAM
Local businesses and individuals are encouraged to pledge in advance to buy art at the festival.
PREVIOUS YEAR AWARD WINNERS
2022 recipients of the Cash Awards prizes (as listed above) will receive a coupon code to waive their application fee and are automatically invited to participate in the show. Please contact the Festival Coordinator [email protected] if you did not receive your award winner coupon code. Applications must be received by May 20th to secure a booth spot.
Submit four digital files: three images of individual pieces of work and one image of your booth with work displayed. Images of art work and booth must be update and representative of what will be displayed. Images should not contain people or distinguishable signage.
Artists may apply for either the competitive or non-competitive category. One medium is allowed per booth. A separate application must be completed for each medium in which you would like to apply.
Co-artists may be accepted if work is produced through collaboration.
CATEGORIES/MEDIUMS
Ceramics – All original clay and porcelain work (other than jewelry) is accepted in this category. No machine-made or mass produced work is permitted. If multiple pieces of the same design are displayed each piece must be signed.
Digital Art – Any original work for which the image was executed by the artist using a computer. Work in this category must be in limited editions, signed and numbered on archival quality materials.
Drawing/Printmaking – Works created using dry media including chalk, charcoal, pastels, pencil, wax crayon, etc. or from the fluid medium of inks and washes applied by pen or brush; printed works for which the artist’s hand manipulated the plates, stones or screens and which have been properly signed and numbered as a limited edition.
Fiber – All work crafted from fibers including basketry, embroidery, weaving, leatherwork, tapestry and papermaking. This can be wearable or non-wearable. No machine tooling, machine-screened patterns or other forms of mass production are permitted. No factory produced wearable items, regardless of additional modification or enhancement by the artist, may be exhibited.
Glass – Glass works that are functional (other than jewelry) or decorative by design and are kiln formed or have been crafted by glass blowing, molding or casting. No forms of mass production are permitted.
Jewelry – All jewelry whether the work is produced from metal, glass, clay, fiber, paper, plastic or other materials must be entered in this category. No commercial casts, molds or production studio work is allowed.
Metal – Artwork created through the forging, twisting and fabricating of various metals. Includes all non-sculptural, non-jewelry works crafted from metals. No production studio work is allowed.
Mixed Media 2D – Artwork that incorporates more than one type of physical material to produce such as paint, pencil, photography, drawing, etc.
Mixed Media 3D – Artwork that incorporates more than one type of physical material to produce 3D objects.
Painting – Works created in oils, acrylics, watercolor, etc. are in this category.
Photography – Photographic prints made from the artist’s original image, which have been processed by that artist, or under the artist's direct supervision, are included in this category.
Sculpture – Three-dimensional original work done in any medium.
Wood – Original works in wood that are hand-tooled, machine-worked, turned or carved are accepted in the wood category.
WAITLIST
A waitlist will be developed based on the jury scores. Artists who do not wish to be included on the waitlist, may indicate so on their application.
IMPORTANT DATES
Application Deadline – May 20
Notification Sent – June 17
Booth Fee Due – July 22
Cancellation deadline – September 1
Set-Up - November 18
CASH AWARDS
Best of Show 2D - $2,000
Best of Show 3D - $2,000
5 Awards of Excellence - $1,000
12 Awards of Distinction - $500
Emerging Artist Award - $500
ARTIST AMENITIES
- Morning Refreshments
- Boxed Lunches
- Artist Hospitality Center
- Booth Sitting Services
JURY PROCESS
Jurying is done on a point system designed to give priority to local artists. One extra point is given for Florida artists and two for Alachua County artists. In 2021, 70 percent of Downtown Festival artists were from Florida and approximately 30 percent of these artists were from Alachua County. The jurying committee consists of qualified, local fine artists. They look for quality, originality, salability, and technical expertise.
PURCHASE AWARD PROGRAM
Local businesses and individuals are encouraged to pledge in advance to buy art at the festival.
PREVIOUS YEAR AWARD WINNERS
2022 recipients of the Cash Awards prizes (as listed above) will receive a coupon code to waive their application fee and are automatically invited to participate in the show. Please contact the Festival Coordinator [email protected] if you did not receive your award winner coupon code. Applications must be received by May 20th to secure a booth spot.
