Art lovers will enjoy a fun weekend that showcases great local and national artists as the annual ArtWorks: Eau Gallie Fine Arts Festival returns for its 27th year.
“There will be 80 artists participating at this year’s festival,” said Sharon Dwyer, the artists coordinator and past president of ArtWorks.
“Many of the artists at the festival have participated in local and national art shows and the media will include painting, drawing, digital art, photography, sculpture, ceramics and jewelry.”
ArtWorks is a one-of-a-kind art show in Brevard County because of the emphasis it places on art education, as the foundation donates to high school art departments to promote interest in the arts with the young talent in the community.
Lynda Kodwyck, a Brevard resident, grew up in New Hampshire and has always been near the ocean. Her oil canvas seascapes depict the special moments that the sea incorporates, be it a sunset, an angry stormy sea or a sunny day with gentle, rolling waves.
“The ocean and I have always had a special relationship and my seascapes always depict whatever mood the ocean throws at me,” Kodwyck said. “I’ve been painting since I was 9 years old and I started with portraits, but gravitated toward seascapes because the sea called to me.”
“I really enjoy participating in this festival, as everyone in the art community gets to see each other again. One of my favorite aspects is the actual demonstrations while I am painting, when students come up and engage, asking me questions, as I find it exciting to encourage their interest in art,” Kodwyck said.
Lynda Kodwyck is passionate about painting seascapes and enjoys participating in the Eau Gallie Fine Arts Festival to encourage an interest in art.
The ArtWorks: Eau Gallie Fine Arts Festival was established in 1996 by the late Link Johnsten and his wife Alexis. It is a nonprofit organization that contacts high schools encouraging students to participate in the festival.
“Artists will have their art on display and they will also be demonstrating and creating new artworks in their booths during the show,” Dwyer said. “The Link Johnsten Best of Show award will receive $3,500 determined by outside judges selecting the winning artist.”