Cover Art -St Thomas This Week
My Original Watercolor “The Spice Ladies” image was selected to be the cover image for the Magazine
“St. Thomas This week” for the US Virgin Islands.. So greatful for the international exposure.
Gifford Lane Art Stroll
Gifford Lane Art Stroll Never Ceases to Amaze
(Coconut Grove, FL…) It’s free. It’s fun. It’s the Grove the way the Grove oncewas. The fourteenth annual Gifford LaneArt Stroll will take place on Sunday, March 18th from 12 noon tofive p.m. It’s the Grove’s other artfestival. You will find it in Coconut Grovenear the Kirk Munroe tennis courts, rolled out along one sleepy little block ofGifford Lane between Oak and Day Avenues (3200 block).
“The thing is,” says Trina Collins one of the founders ofthe Stroll, “at lots of arts festivals, artists are primarily interested inshowing their work. At the Gifford LaneArt Stroll, artists come here to sell their work and sell they do. The price is right. The quality’s good. It is rare to see a person at the Stroll whodoesn’t have some new treasure tucked under their arm walking up the lane.”
The Coconut Grove event features work by more than seventyartists positioned along the normally quiet little lane on fences, in frontyards, on clotheslines, in trees, and on ladders. Here you will find some of the finest artistsin the region up close and personal.
The truth about the Gifford Lane Art Stroll is that it isattended by thousands of people each year. The date changes every year. Almost the only way you are going to hearabout the Gifford Lane Art Stroll is by word of mouth—it is like beingpersonally invited to the party.
The Art Stroll gives away all of the profit taken in fromthe sale of cucumber punch, broiled burgers, hot dogs, grilled shrimp,wonderful ribs and, of course, tons of art. Over the years, the Stroll has donated more than $40,000 to two Grovecharities– the St. Stephen’s AIDS Ministry and the St. Alban’s ChildEnrichment Center in the Grove Village West.
Sculpture, portraits, sea and landscapes, tile mosaics,large abstract paintings, photography, mixed media, jewelry, and several artforms that as yet have no name will be displayed along the shady lane in thelaid back tropical setting.
The art. Thevibe. The cucumbers. Rock and roll. The blues.
Quick, name one art festival in South Florida that boastsits own libation. The Gifford Lane ArtStroll has been serving thousands of glasses of cucumber punch for more than adecade – it’s been mentioned in The New York Times. The recipe for cucumber punch was onceprinted in the Miami Herald as part of its review of the Gifford Laneart celebration. The intoxicatinglyheady elixir is only stirred up once a year. It produces a mellow and pleasing vibe that allows people to step asideand relax. Somewhere late in theafternoon, an indulgence in the cucumber punch causes people to want to go outinto the street and dance, which they do by the hundreds.
All sorts of folks show up for the festivities, people fromthe next block, folks from Miami Beach vaguely seeking something authentic,mayors of wherever, young parents with their young kids, well known County and Citypoliticians, now and then a Republican state representative, celebrities,bankers, activists, retired sports stars, and now people from out of state areshowing up for what has been called one cool art party.
The live music is nonstop all afternoon and the tunes aresweet, sweeter, and sweetest. Inaddition to the always diverting Coconut Grove Juggling Exchange, there willalso be a number of bands rocking out. Headlining this year’s music line-up is Josh Rowand, The Pit Bull of Blues– a band that also features his father Denny Rowand of Outda D’Blues fame. Last summer, The Pit Bull of Blues blew awayan audience of thousands at the Grove’s Fourth of July Fireworks concert.
Also playing at the Stroll throughout the afternoon will bethe versatile Sam Sims’ Trio as well as the folk and rock tunesmiths SolarDogs.
Grove artist Dan Bondroff, a mainstay of the Coconut GroveArts Festival, is this year’s Gifford Lane poster artist with his dark and vibrantGroveMarina Sunrise.
The legendary little Gifford Lane Art Stroll continues aGrove tradition of wild and crazy artists who defied convention to bring peopletogether in a magical clearing under the trees. More than a decade ago, a half-dozen active artists lived along thisblock. They started the tradition. Most of them have now moved away but a heartyband of some thirty to forty neighbors meet frequently to carry on this mostunlikely of all arts festivals.
The Art Stroll has now changed Gifford Lane itself. “We only have the Art Stroll one afternoon ayear”, says founder Trina Collins, ‘but we now have residents who havepurchased homes on the block because of the Art Stroll. They came, they stayed. In the months of January through March wehave potluck suppers with 30 – 40 folks in people’s homes and have some amazingfood and planning sessions. It is reallyquite remarkable how this little festival has brought so many diverse neighborstogether. We all know each other as aresult of this. It has made us acommunity. That doesn’t happen inMiami. The Gifford Lane Art Stroll is areal friendly afternoon in Coconut Grove. Everybody should come on out and buy some artand have some cucumber punch. It is agood vibe because all of the money raised stays here in the Grove to helppeople here.”
Once again this year, all of the participating artists’ atthe Art Stroll will be giving back a percentage of their sales to Grovecharities – this percentage will be added to contributions by the public and byneighbors along the block.
The Gifford Lane Art Stroll promises to be good-heartedafternoon of delights under the leafy canopy on Sunday, March 18 from 12 noonto 5:00 p.m. Be sure to be there.
Cover – Community Newspaper- South Miami
To find out more about the Art Festival go to www.southmiamiartfest.org
28th Annual South Miami Rotary Art Festival
Saturday Feb 25th 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday Feb 26th 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
My Booth is #29
I will be in front of THE SHOPS OF SUNSET on Sunset Drive, South Miami, Florida.
Hope to see you .
World traveler and local painter Eileen Seitz has been a regular at the South Miami Art Festival for 12 years. “I was born in
Traveling and experiencing the bright colors of the tropics while surfing in the Virgin Islands I decided to make Florida my home. I feel I am giving back to people the spirit of living through drawing and painting to remind them of a simple way of life. I am Blessed to be able to capture the harmonious beauty of the sunlit tropical colors that surround us
everywhere.” The Multi-dimensional appearing painting “Peacocks inParadise ” is exuberantly colored in bright pinks, yellows and blues with smiling Hibiscus throughout the landscape and two peacocks almost hiding behind the flowers
while the sea beckons in the background.
everywhere.” The Multi-dimensional appearing painting “Peacocks in
while the sea beckons in the background.
The Giclee (or fine art print, original is sold) of “Side by Side” is a simple wooden dock image from
The 28th Annual South Miami Rotary Art Festival is open from 10am to 6pm February 25 and 26 on Sunset Drive between US1 and
from around the country exhibiting, there will be a children’s alley on SW 57 Court, a multinational food court, live music, not for profit association tabling, raffle tickets and
beer and soda sales to benefit Rotary’s charities.
For more information about the festival visit southmiamiartfest.org.
To find out about Rotary, visit the Rotary booth in front of headquarters on the festival site.
Cover Artwork – ST. Thomas This Week Magazine Feb 2012 Issue
"Rocky Hill Houses"7 feet x 5 feet Original Oil on Canvas.
Was chosen to be the front cover of the Februray 2012 ST. THOMAS TODAY magazine.
This magazine describes "things to do" on St. Thomas USVI.
Artist In Residence RCCL –
January 21- January 26th 2012I was the Artist in Residence on the "Liberty of the Seas" one of the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Freedom Class ships.
Sailing for 5 days, I exhibited for sale a collection of 18 of my original watercolors and 12 fine art limited edition giclees. The framed watercolors vary in size and imagery. The ship left from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida traveled to Belize then to Cozumel Mexico and then returned to Ft. Lauderdale.
I was doing watercolor demonstrations several times on the ship and drew large crowds.
We had several live auctions where I had the opportunity to speak, share my history, travel adventures and inspirations for my works of art.
Many conversations and several sales of my original watercolors and limited edition giclees made the short time on this ship a valuable experience.
Pinecrest Farmers Market
I will be exhibiting my giclees, art cards,matted mini prints, posters,fabrics, pillows and jigsaw puzzle.
Event starts at 9:00am-3:00pm
Location::: Pincrest gardens on
Red road and 112th street.
Under the Banyan Trees in the Parking Lot.
Come and enjoy Sunday morning.
Eileen
The Grove Garden and Arts Show – Coconut Grove, Fl.
FEB 18, 2012 Saturday
Feb 19,2012 Sunday
Feb 20, 2012 Monday
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
On McFarlane Road, in the PARKING LOT on the Right heading towards the water.. Right before St. Stephens Art Festival.
It is a FREE SHOW selling Art, Furniture, Home Accessories, Jewlery, Sculpture and many other items.
Pinecrest Farmers Market, South Miami
I will be exhibiting my giclees art cards, framed minis, posters, jigsaw puzzle fabrics and hand painted pillows.
Location is Pinecrest
Gardens in the Parking Lot under the BanyanTrees.
Wounderful exhibitors and plenty of fabulous products..
Hours 9:00am-3:00pm
See you there.
Eileen
Festival of the Arts- Deerfield Beach, FL. A1A
January 28- 29, 2012
Saturday and Sunday
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
A fabulous arts festival on A1A along the Beach in Deerfield Beach.
Come for the day or for the weekend.
Take 95 North or South , exit on Hillsboro Blvd head East to SW21st Ave right along the BEACH.
The show is very nice and you can see all the artists easily.
South Miami Rotary Arts Festival, South Miami Florida
Saturday. February 25, 2012. 10:00am- 6:00 pm
Sunday February 26, 2012 10:00am- 6:00pm
Art festival is on Sunset Drive from Red Road to US1
My booth is in front of Shoppes of Sunset.
It’s a great show.
The artists, crafters and public viewers.
Hope to see you there.
Eileen Seitz
