Historic seaside vacation town is a port for Art & Craft - city beat: Amelia Island - Amelia Island/Fernandina Beach, Florida - Brief Article

Art Business News, Jan, 2002 by Adrienne Pozzetta

Amelia Island/Fernandina Beach is a small coastal town in the eastern-most corner of northern Florida. Discovered more than 400 years ago, the island is the only location in the U.S. that has been under the flags of eight different countries. The historic district, the beaches, fishing, golf and tennis attract score of tourists to the island. And various specialized events and festivals are key in drawing the interest of visitors to the town's growing arts community.

Hailed as the birthplace of the commercial shrimp industry in the early 1900s, fisherman have always been attracted to the area. In celebration of this industry, each year on the first weekend in May the island hosts the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival Arts and Crafts Show. Attracting more than 150,000 visitors to the downtown district, the four-day event combines seafood, live music, a parade and contests and features more than 350 artists exhibiting watercolors, pottery, mixed media, prints, sculpture, photography and crafts. Many of the local participating artists are part of the Island Art Association located at 205 Centre Street, a co-op gallery in Nassau County which sponsors the Arts and Crafts portion of the festival.

Vicky Cooper, president of the Island Art Association (IAA) has seen the art community grow over the years. There are now 50 exhibiting members plus 75 associate members who take part in classes and critiques offered by the association. "Here in Fernandina there are about 20 galleries with more opening all the time. We are a very close-knit group," said Cooper, who creates and sells pottery at the IAA gallery.

Artists new to the area will find it easy to get involved with activities the IAA sponsors. Moving to Amelia Island from Texas eight years ago, artist Paul Massing joined the association as a means to exhibit his artwork. For about five years Massing has taught a figure-drawing workshop at the association as well as served on the board and as gallery director. "I have noticed an increase in art activity with the arrival of new artists and with a more active involvement with art patrons and exhibiting galleries," said Massing.

Finding something to paint, draw, sculpt or sketch is not difficult on Amelia Island. The majority of galleries lie within a 50-block area that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The preservation of late Victorian architecture makes this area unique, and a walking tour shows off brick paved streets with flowering begonias and mansions framed with Victorian gingerbread details. Shrimp boats are still docked along the shore as they were at the turn of the last century.

Artist Elizabeth Dion's work hangs in Chef Ryan's Cafe and Main Squeeze Juice Bar on 3rd Street. Dion met the owner while she was eating lunch one day, and he voiced his desire to hang artwork in the new indoor area of the restaurant. She did a painting for the cafe that tricks the eye into thinking you're looking out of a window at a bright ocean landscape. Dion was introduced to the art scene in Fernandina by joining Massing's drawing class at the IAA. After joining as an associate member, she submitted work for jury and was accepted as an exhibiting member more than three years ago. "I'd say the community has been very welcoming to artists," said Dion. All exhibiting members are required to work in the gallery once a month. "This is a great way to get to know people and be part of the art and downtown Fernandina community," Dion stated.

The community has found other ways to make its art more accessible to the public. Joe Winston of Off Centre Potters has a private studio at 11 South 7th Street that he opens once a month during Artrageous First Fridays. Sponsored by local galleries and studio owners, this event is held the first Friday of each month and allows the public to visit with artists, enjoy refreshments and purchase works and collect door prizes. "This is the only time my studio is open to the public. We have a very good turnout when we do First Fridays," said Winston. Vicki Cooper agreed with Winston saying, "We've had a phenomenal turnout, the locals are showing up and just having a blast. It brings a lot of encouragement to the artists and brings people and the galleries closer together."

While art lovers can easily find galleries and studios to browse, Amelia Island also offers numerous festivals to entice people to the area.

The Ritz Carkon is host to a number of festivals including: the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance (March 9 to 11) featuring historic vintage automobiles; the New World Cuisine Festival (formerly Festival of Food & Wine, Aug. 31-Sept. 3); and the Beaujolais Nouveau Celebration (Nov. 15, 2001) to welcome the arrival of new vintages of French wine. Some newer festivals that have been recently added are: the Book Island Festival held in October where the Nassau County Writers and Poets Society welcomes authors to share their ideas with the public; and the first Seaside Jazz Festival and Buffet will be held in May at the Ritz Carlton. The Bausch & Lomb Women's Tennis Association Championships in April draws thousands of tennis fans to the island, and in June fishermen compete in the Kingfish Tournament.