- April 25, 2024
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Art in the Park Best of Show fine artist Mike Nelson stands amidst his Brutalist style pottery. Photo by Michele Meyers
City of Ormond Beach Recreation Program Specialist Sara Dionne runs the information booth at Art in the Park. Photo by Michele Meyers
Bob Panek and Roy Mangus of Love Conspiracy play for the Art in the Park patrons at the Casements. Photo by Michele Meyers
Photographer Elzbieta Weron shakes hands with Jim Rapp who just purchased one of her newest pieces at Art in the Park. She won first place in the fine arts category. Photo by Michele Meyers
Artist Dan Burleigh Phillips sits with his watercolors at the 49th annual Art in the Park event at Rockefeller Gardens. Photo by Michele Meyers
Continuous Creative Treasures owner and Flagler resident Carrie Thomas, works on her crafts while manning her booth at the 49th annual Art in the Park show. Photo by Michele Meyers
Bob Panek and Roy Mangus of Love Conspiracy play for the Art in the Park patrons at the Casements. Photo by Michele Meyers
Ormond Lakes resident Leann Alexander (left) goes to all the art festivals every year. She bought a mermaid box from Terri Hester (right), owner of Just Beachy. Photo by Michele Meyers
Everly Suarez holds the goodies that were bought for her at the Just Beachy booth. Photo by Michele Meyers
Abigail and Nick Nave peruse the booths at Art in the Park while pet Loki meets Sherlock and Ruben Suarez (right). Photo by Michele Meyers
This is artist Denise Vezza Maggiore's second year participating in Art in the Park. She has a studio in New Smyrna Beach. Photo by Michele Meyers
Girl Scocuts of the Citrus Council diplay their artwork at Art in the Park in the Casements. Photo by Michele Meyers
Potters talk clay at the Art in the Park Best of Show fine artist booth --Tony Stellitano (left) and artist Mike Nelson. Photo by Michele Meyers
Four-year-old artists Melina Massy and Ellie O'Toole color pictures for their moms at the Art in the Park Kid Zone. Photo by Michele Meyers
Four-year-old artist Melina Massy creates a piece of art of rher mom at the Art in the Park Kid Zone. Photo by Michele Meyers
Artist CJ Harrington is part of the Palette & Brush Club of the Halifx Area who ran the Kid Zone tables at the Art in the Park festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
Kids help themselves to the shaved ice flavors of Kona Ice at the 49th annual Art in the Park. Photo by Michele Meyers
Wood turner David Mallory (right) sits with his friend Elizabeth in front of his booth at the 49th annual Art in the Park show. Photo by Michele Meyers
Wood turner David Mallory received the Merit Award at the 49th annual Art in the Park show. Photo by Michele Meyers
Artists were not deterred as they endured a soggy Saturday morning kickoff to the 49th annual Art in the Park on May 6. As the rain dried, people began to arrive to enjoy a day of fine art, crafts, music and food truck fare.
The event is presented at Rockefeller Gardens by the city of Ormond Beach Department of Leisure Services and the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens. In 2015, Sonja Johnson became the coordinator of the event but has assisted with the event since 2010.
“I love this event,” she said. “This is my baby. How can you be unhappy, it’s an art show.”
I love this event. This is my baby. How can you be unhappy, it’s an art show. - Sonja Johnson, Leisure Services Community Events Coordinator
Most of the artists and vendors return annually to participate in the show. This year, there were 92 booths, five musical acts—Stealing Vanity, Dan Allen, Traces of Gold, Love Conspiracy, Tie Dye Road and Jordan Redding— along with multiple food trucks. The kid zone was run by the Palette and Brush Club of the Halifax Area.
Potter Mike Nelson, who won Best of Show in the fine art category, retired in 2019 from teaching art to Volusia County middle schoolers after working for 10 years at Holly Hill School and 12 years at Creekside. He was awarded a check for $1,500 from the Best of Show sponsor, Mimi's Original Art.
“Now I just do what I want to do,” he said. “I used to do all kinds of utilitarian pottery. This stuff won’t make any money exactly, but it’s like showing a diversity of clay to people and just trying to show it doesn’t all have to be pretty.”
Ormond Beach resident Leann Alexander has been going to the show every year.
“Every year I go to all the art festivals,” she said. “I love them all. I love to make sure the people here get our money instead of the big fancy stores. You can get such special things here.”
