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Artists, Crafters To Show Off Works At Festival

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By JOYCE McKENZIE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 7, 2007

TEMPLE TERRACE - It has long been the aim of the Temple Terrace Arts Council to provide venues and volunteers to promote the arts.

With that in mind, arts council President Linda Beckman considers the organization's annual Temple Terrace Community Arts Festival, to be held this weekend at Riverhills Park, the best possible means to accomplish that mission.

For more than three decades, the event has drawn thousands of fine artists, crafters and attendees from the Tampa Bay area and beyond.

Almost $6,000 in cash prizes are awarded to participants. In addition, close to $4,500 worth of fine art pieces, including paintings, pottery, sculpture, jewelry and photography, are purchased every year by the arts council. They are displayed in the lobby at Temple Terrace City Hall for a year before being put up for bid at the council's annual open-to-the-public art auction.

"It's a win-win situation for everyone involved," said Beckman, who's in her second year as head of the organization.

That's why she's so enthusiastic about this weekend's 34th annual festival, which will feature 60 crafters and 72 fine artists.

"This is just always an exciting time for us because we work so hard and so long for these two days," Beckman said. "Every year, we try to make it a little better by adding and improving things, and that's what makes it so special."

Arts council Treasurer Anne Green is charged with handling entrants' applications, including some that are postmarked from New Jersey, Alabama, Ohio and Wisconsin.

"They come from all over the United States, so we get a good sampling of art," Green said, adding that much of the interest is generated by word of mouth.

It's a wonderful family event, Green said, because there will be a children's area with games and projects, art by local elementary schools hung from clotheslines along the park's boardwalk and numerous food vendors to please nearly everyone's palate.

"A lot of people come and make a day of it," she said. "It's a place where people can see both high-quality crafts and fine art, and it's a wonderful place to buy Christmas presents because you're getting things that are one-of-a-kind."

The setting, Green added, is also conducive to attracting people who appreciate the shade of the grandfather oaks and the beauty of the river.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Temple Terrace Community Arts Festival

WHEN: From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

WHERE: Riverhills Park, 309 S. Riverhills Drive

HOW MUCH: Admission and parking are free.

INFORMATION: Call (813) 988-2787 or e-mail info @templeterraceartscouncil .org.

Reporter Joyce McKenzie can be reached at (813) 865-4849.

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