Gasparilla Art Fest Enlivens Downtown Tampa

Thousands of people streamed through downtown this weekend for the Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts.

The festival, which is in its 39th year and concluded this afternoon, brought to life the typically dormant streets around Lykes Gaslight Square Park.

People walked their dogs and rode their bikes, brought their kids in strollers and in wagons, and laid out blankets to listen to the bands and watch children running through the grass. They leaned back on the public benches and in their camping chairs, catching a better look at the throngs passing by.

Many strolled along the sun-warmed streets, stopping in to whatever booths caught their interest, sampling the fare along the way or exploring the downtown blocks along the festival's edges.

The weather was perfect, and the atmosphere was welcoming. But it's the more than 300 artists from all over the country who provide the real draw.

Sculptor Nancy Cervenka of Gulfport took home the best in show award and $8,500 for her work, "Wearable Art."

The other winners were:

Board of Directors Award: Jean Yao, Fort Lauderdale, "Coconut Basket" (fiber)
Robby Brownlee Reed Award of Artistic Excellence: James Michaels, Palm Harbor, "Dreams of His Father" (painting)

Mayor's Award: Carolina Cleere, Tampa, "They'll Greet You With Flowers" (mixed media)
Anniversary Award: Marvin Blackmore, Dolores, Colo., "Kiva Jar" (ceramic)

FOTA of the Tampa Museum of Art: Lance and Vicki Munn, Blommfield, Ind., "Bar Cabinet" (wood)

Individual Awards of Merit: James Barnes, Woolwine, Va., "Amboyna Burl" (wood); Daryl Bunn, Jacksonville, "Gerabera Blanco" (photography); Todd Cameron, Minneapolis, "Split Vase, Gears #7" (glass); Kimberly Chalos, Evansville, Ind., "Virginia" (mixed media); Lloyd Cheney, Palm Bay, "Untitled" (wood); John Cheng, Coram, N.Y., "To Purify" (mixed media); Chris Dahlquist, Kansas City, "Mile Marker 131" (mixed media); Ummarid Eitharong, Orlando, "Mia Series" (mixed media); Pam Fox, Sarasota, "Fox Sphere XIII" (jewelry); Bejamin Frey, Montreal, "Language Cannot Do Everything" (mixed media); Charles Gatewood, Phenix City, Ala., "Untitled" (painting); Luis Enrique Guitierrez, Zebulon, N.C., "Anfora de Lineas" (ceramic); Aaron Hequembourg, Monticello, Ga., "American Saint" (mixed media); John Herbon, Saint Ignace, Mich., "Bird on Bed of Leaves" (ceramic); Nicario Jimenez, Naples, "Adam and Eve" (mixed media); Wiwat Kamolpornwijit, Alexandria, Va., "Rose Bud Necklace" (jewelry); William Kidd, Miramar, "Pedestal Bowl" (ceramic); Duncan McClellan, Tampa, "My Garden After Glass" (glass); Marius Moore, Gulfport, "The Patch" (photography); Stephen Nelson, Sillington, Pa., "Chalice" (glass); Mary and Tyrone Proctor, Tallahassee, "Train Upa Child" (mixed media); Paul Shatz, Charleston, S.C., "Lake Marion" (photography); Alexa Smarsh, Key Largo, "Red/Black Elegance" (jewelry); James Spiroff, Deltona, "Ferns-3Some" (ceramic); John and Camille Starpoli, Port St. Luce, "Table" (mixed media); Gregory Strachov, Floral City, "Visit to Galipoli" (watercolor); Lauran Sundin, Concord, N.H., "Space Jewelry" (jewelry); Greg Thomas-Moore, Deltona, "5 Drawer/Oddly Stacked" (wood); William Underwood, Pinellas Park, "Merit Island" (photography); Michael Weber, Port St. Lucie, "Fresh Eggs" (watercolor)

SkyPoint/Intown Group Emerging Artist: Rudolph Lopez, Tampa