Art in the Park set to celebrate 25 years of community talent

For residents of University Park, the  Art in the Park has become a source of pride, as it has grown from a modest show in 2000 into one of the area’s notable juried fine art events.

This year is the 25th year for Art in the Park, set for March 14-16 at the University Park Country Club. 

Deborah Van Brunt, a painter who has participated in the show since 2019, said the first show was small, but successful.

“The first year, it was 15 artists," Van Brunt said. "Nobody quite knew how it was going to go off, but it did go off very well, and it's grown really substantially over the years.” 

This year, 56 artists will be showing their work. Crowds coming to the event have also grown. Last year drew more than 1,400 people to the show, to see the art, and perhaps take a piece or two home with them.

Artists will be selling their artwork, as well as prints, note cards and other merchandise, Van Brunt said.

“Gosh, we have one gal who is now making a clothing line out of her paintings, and so she'll figure a way, I'm sure, to have those for sale there, too.”

Art in the Park is unique in that only residents of University Park, and members and employees of its country club can enter artwork in the show. 

But the event’s organizers say that doesn’t mean people should expect amateur work.

“A lot of professional artists live here,” said Michael Parkinson, a painter who is helping manage this year’s show.

Even the nonprofessionals participating are extremely talented, he said.

“They're amateurs, but not amateurish," Parkinson said. "There's some very high quality art that you would see in any of the galleries downtown in Sarasota.”

Art in the Park is also a great way for newer artists to get experience in showing their work. 

“There's nothing like artists gaining confidence or having wonderful feedback from others,” Van Brunt said. “It's a very rewarding position to be involved with this.”

Parkinson said Art in the Park has encouraged him to grow as an artist.

“Art is something I've sort of played around with over the years, but never really took that seriously,” he said.

When he retired several years ago, he was trying to figure out what to do.

“I don't play golf," he said. "I did play a little bit of tennis, but not that much.”

He decided to focus on painting and began entering his work in Art in the Park.

“It has been incredibly reinforcing,” he said. “People have responded very positively to my work. I've even sold some, which always shocks me. That people are willing to pay for my work is always a pleasant surprise.”

“If you see his work, you wouldn't be surprised,” Van Brunt said, adding that Parkinson has taken home several of the show’s top awards. 

Van Brunt stressed Art in the Park is a fine art show — No crafts are allowed, although that “sometimes is a very blurry line,” she said. 

Accepted media includes painting (oil, acrylic and watercolor), collage, photography, sculpture, encaustic, fabric art and mixed media. 

This is the first year that fabric art can be submitted and Van Brunt said there are already some exciting entries.

“There are two sensational pieces. I wouldn't be surprised if either one might win a prize,” she said.

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Art in the Park is bringing in three highly respected artists to judge the show, the event’s website says:

Helen Solomon is an accomplished art instructor with 35 years of experience teaching various art classes, particularly in the senior community. She has shared her expertise at institutions like the College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, and Naperville Park District. Helen has contributed to art festivals in Chicago and Florida as a judge, supporting emerging artists. As a co-founder and former president of the South Shore Arts Council, Helen established the Valencia Lakes Art Club, Inc.

Fabio Dal Bon was born in Italy and grew up in Latin America, and has been a journalist, editor, crisis manager, high-level corporate executive of multinationals. His fine art on aluminum, a mix between new pop art and hyperrealism, takes on a magical luminescence and an incredible 3-D effect with stunning details, depth and movement. His work is on exhibit at 25 N. Pineapple Avenue.

Joseph Melançon is a versatile artist whose painting mediums include acrylic, oil and watercolor. He has been teaching art in colleges, workshops and art centers since 1963 and recently retired from 22 years of teaching at Art Center Sarasota. Joseph’s paintings have won many local and national awards and has been featured in American Artist Magazine; Splash 3 and 5; 200 Great Painting Ideas and The Creative Edge.

As well as traditional awards, including Best of Show, the public can also participate by voting for the People’s Choice Award.

“That’s kind of a neat thing about our show, that the attendees get to vote, too,” VanBrunt said, noting that the People’s Choice winner is often not the judges’ favorite. 

Both Parkinson and Van Brunt hope that people coming to the show will come away with an appreciation for the community of University Park. 

“In terms of what I hope people who attend it get out of it is, one, an appreciation of the talent that lies right here in our neighborhood,” Van Brunt said.

“And to celebrate that creativity is something wonderful in this day and age, especially if you have a creative outlet and can bring something positive back to other people. It's pretty powerful.”

Parkinson said he was grateful for support the University Park Country Club’s have given. “The club has been promoting arts generally, not just Art in the Park, but the club has been very supportive of the arts in our community at large, and we're thankful.”