Suncoast Arts Fest to once again heat up January

For some of the finer things in life, a little aging only improves them — artisan cheeses, good scotch and fine wine.

The Suncoast Arts Fest has matured in such a way into an event anticipated each year both for its established characteristics and for the little nuances that come with each new vintage.

Well in excess of 100,000 guests are expected to partake when Wesley Chapel Nissan presents the 2012 Suncoast Arts Fest from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive, about 2½ miles east of Interstate 75 on State Road 56.

Organizers for Fine Arts of the Suncoast, the nonprofit organization behind the Suncoast Arts Fest, brought the event to the Shops at Wiregrass in 2009, and it has proven to be the perfect venue to stage such an event.

Rather than the typical idea of setting up in a park or blocking off streets, the shopping center is a more natural fit for a large-scale arts festival, with ample parking and a layout designed for heavy foot traffic, including courtyards to stage entertainment and demonstrations.

The upscale mall provides an atmosphere that is naturally compatible with a first-class arts festival. As visitors stroll along, the resident shops and restaurants blend together with the artists' tents into a singular experience.

Since moving to the Shops at Wiregrass, the festival has established an identity as one of the premiere arts events on the Suncoast.

Positioned on the calendar to be the region's leadoff art event of the year, Arts Fest has benefitted from its ahead-of-season scheduling and draws some of the best artists and craftspeople from around the state. In all this year there will be 135, representing every conceivable media: ceramics, clay, drawing, glass, graphics, fiber, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, photography, printmaking, sculpture and wood. This practically guarantees something for every taste and price range.

The astute eye will notice that the event is called the Suncoast Arts Fest, "Arts" being plural. Along with the wide variety of visual art, the weekend always features a sampling from the performing arts, as well.

Suncoast Arts Fest was founded six years ago in part to be a fundraiser for the Fine Arts of the Suncoast's Arts for Kids program, which provides financial support for arts education in Pasco County schools. That aspect of the festival is emphasized, with two perennial features: the Emerging Artists juried exhibition for seventh- through 12th-grade artists; and the Kid's Art Garden, where children can create works of art.

Youth will be served on the stage this year, with emphasis on developing musical talent. The Hudson Middle School Jazz Band will perform at 11:15 Saturday, followed by the Hudson High School chorus at noon. On Sunday, the Land O'Lakes High School Orchestra and Band will take the stage at 11 a.m., followed by the Charles S. Rushe Middle School Chorus at noon.

The onstage entertainment will start with classic rock and blues by the Time Bandits at 10 a.m. Saturday. At 2 p.m. Josh Lamkin and Automatic Heat deliver their high energy, original music. At 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sol Caribe will bring a Latin flavor to the festival.

Adding to the musical atmosphere, Steve Shurdell of WJQB 106.3 FM will do a remote broadcast from the Arts Fest on Sunday.

At 12:30 p.m. both days, artist Tim Decker returns to Arts Fest, merging fine art and performance as he demonstrates his skill at speed painting, creating patriotic and celebrity portraits in four to seven minutes each.

A prize drawing will be held each day for one of Decker's paintings, to benefit Arts for Kids. Tickets will be $2 each or three for $5.

Another feature that has become a crowd pleaser since Arts Fest settled at the Shops at Wiregrass is the group of chalk artists who will adorn the pavement in the courtyard outside Dillard's all weekend.

The biggest new features to the Suncoast Arts Fest this year will be the Suncoast Run for the Arts, at 9 a.m. Sunday. The not-too-daunting, one-mile jaunt around the shopping center is an Arts for Kids fundraising event, sponsored by Big Dawg Runnin' Inc., and will include a pancake breakfast at the finish line.

For more information on Suncoast Arts Fest 2012, including a directory of participating artists and related events in Pasco and Pinellas counties during Arts Fest weekend, visit www.suncoastartsfest.com.