Entries should reflect the special history or natural beauty that Florida represents. This might include local or state landmarks, important historical events, natural wonders…anything that captures the essense of what Florida is about. It’s the artist’s interpretation of what makes Florida so unique.

Artists may bring up to three entries on Saturday, July 6, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Gallery Committee appreciates your promptness during the receiving!

For gallery submission guidelines, click HERE.

According to Erin Bryce, North Port’s community relations liaison, images of North Port’s lush environment and abundant wildlife have yet to find a place in this beautiful calendar, but this is the year the City would like to change that. And we agree!

You may submit up to three digital entries. Deadline for submission is July 15, 2013. The contest is open to all ages and all mediums. The images or artwork can have been done yesterday or even 50 years ago.

The CHNEP is a partnership program whose mission is to protect the natural environment of Florida from Venice to Estero Bay to Winter Haven.

For a complete set of rules and an entry form, please click HERE

Gallery Chairperson Cathy Beausoleil noted that the show drew the largest number of entries in the art center’s history. There were 57 entries in the art category, and 23 in photography. Samantha Parkinson, gallery coordinator at the Englewood Art Center, judged the show.

“The whimsical nature of the subject matter is fantastic,” she wrote. “From nearly every piece, the viewer gets a sense of the personality of these animals. Art is well done; it’s easy to see that these artists were truly inspired by these creatures.”

Sandi Hilliard’s oil, “Beauty in Nature,” was selected the Grand Champion winner by People’s Choice.

Other art category winners were Tom Bond, second place, “The Intruder,” acrylic, and Nancy Gray, third place, “Pure Joy,” acrylic. Honorable mentions went to Frances Smith, “Pug,” pastel; Barbara Archer Baldwin, “Fi Fi Remembered,” pastel; Sheryl Unwin, “African Stallion,” scratchboard; Jane R. Gates, “Lost Creek Bear,” acrylic; and Beth Hornick, “Black Sea,” clay.

In the Photography competition, Christie Moreau’s “Black and White” captured the first place prize. Second place went to Jean Schuster, “I am My Brother’s Keeper,” and third place to John Baldwin, “A Lavish Bath for ‘Lavish Love’.” Marlena Beck received an honorable mention for her photo, “Soarin’.”.

A reception and awards presentation was held May 11. Members of the North Port Poetry Workshop were also on hand presenting their interpretive poems for selected art pieces.

The show runs through July 6.  Click here to see all the photos

Youth Director Clare Harvey is in need of adult volunteers to help man the front desk during class times, as well as supervise the students during lunches while teachers do clean-up and prepping duties.

High school students are welcome to apply as volunteers, and may be eligible for school credit for their volunteer hours. They should check with their school guidance counselors concerning eligible credit hours.

Art camp runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each weekday beginning June 10 for eight weeks, with a one-week break during the July 4 holiday week.

Please call Clare at the Art Center at 941-423-6460 if you can volunteer.

Deirdre was an enthusiastic member of NPAC and studied acrylic painting with NPAC Instructor Clare Harvey for several years, until her recent illness. Her happy presence at our member meetings and gallery receptions will be greatly missed.

Deirdre was a former resident of Levittown, NY. Art and dance were her passions, along with her children and grandchildren. Immediate survivors include husband Peter Bartolotta and four children, all of North Port.

The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the North Port Art Center.

 

Fine-art and crafts, tie-dye, painting, mosaics, jewelry, pottery, candle making, drawing, art history, games and more. Each week is different. All weeks offer a full variety of lessons.

Eight separate weeks: June 10 – Aug. 9
no camp week of July 1-5
9am -1pm Monday-Fridays

Free Lunch included!(Provided by the Sarasota County Food Service Fund)ages 6 and up $75/week (20 hours)
2 classes daily taught by professional art instructors
Starts June 10th

Partial funding provided by the Plantation Community Foundation, Inc.
High School students may arrange for volunteer credit with their school counselor.

We are also offering an extra program to help those who are looking for an all day experience. “Active Art” is creative play from 1-3pm, $35/week.

Click here to register your child for ”Fun”tastic Art Camp

Click here to register your child for ”Active Art”

To sponsor a child please use the donate button in the blue box on the right.

Sale Chair Carol Dawkins, right, assists customer Linda Thompson of Venice with a purchase, while Shawn Clugsten beams after finding two dragon figurines at NPAC’s “Junk-A-Rama” driveway sale April 13.

Art Center members answered the call for donations and our volunteers worked tirelessly to make our April 13 “Junk-A-Rama” driveway sale a very successful NPAC fundraising effort. NPAC raised slightly more than $1,200 in the five-hour event.

Our sincerest thanks to all of our members who cleaned out their closets, drawers, garages, and yards to donate their unwanted treasures. We were amazed and delighted by the response, not only from our members, but from our community. A steady stream of customers kept our volunteers busy every minute. There was very little left at the end of the day, and the few remaining odds and ends were donated to Goodwill.

Preparing for this kind of event takes a good bit of work, however, and we are also grateful to our volunteers who donated their time sorting, pricing, and packing before the event, and setting up and selling during the day. Sale Chair Carol Dawkins would like to thank all of them for their efforts. Without our volunteers, this would not have been possible.

Again, our thanks to all who volunteered to help: Donna Lane, Sue Shatzer, Karen Frustereo, Barry Thorne, Howard Hartke, Nina Rausch, Denise Manguse, Gail Ribas, Mary Alspaugh, Steve Alspaugh, Chris Sylvester, Brent Sylvester, Mary Maples, Sharon Johnson, Cheryl Srnka, and Steve Miller.

Pictured, from left: Artist Barry Thorne discusses his art with visitors, while Sharon Yarbough paints “en plein aire” during the city’s Arts in the Park event April 27 at North Port’s Garden of the Five Senses. At right, visitors examine Sandi Hilliard’s oil paintings and pottery bowls and vases from Ricardo Hicks.

Member artists spent a beautiful Saturday afternoon painting and creating in the Garden of the Five Senses public park in North Port on April 27 during the “Arts in the Park” event, hosted by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.

Artists, poets, and musicians entertained visitors during the three-hour event. Artists were permitted to show and sell their work as well.