- December 4, 2025
Kyra Lieberman shows her photography at the Novel Tea Book Shop and The Studio by Artist Angel Lowden during the Ormond Beach First Saturday Art Walk on Aug. 2. Photo by Michele Meyers
Aventura residents Joan Reilly (left) and Alice Lopez (right) peruse the shelves at the Novel Tea Book Shop during the Ormond Beach First Saturday Art Walk on Aug. 2. Photo by Michele Meyers
Ormond Beach First Saturday Art Walk goers could grab a bite to eat at the Novel Tea Book Shop cafe on Aug. 2. Photo by Michele Meyers
Kyra Lieberman shows her photography at the Novel Tea Book Shop and The Studio by Artist Angel Lowden during the Ormond Beach First Saturday Art Walk on Aug. 2. Photo by Michele Meyers
Palm Coast resident Britta Hoffman and her friend Heather Cannon-Patron check out the teas and art at the Novel Tea Book Shop during the Ormond Beach First Saturday Art Walk on Aug. 2. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Novel Tea Book Shop owners Stephanie Gonter (left) and Angel Lowden (right), owner of The Studio, pose in front of their tea varieties during the Ormond Beach First Saturday Art Walk on Aug. 2. Photo by Michele Meyers
Artist Angel Lowden, owner of The Studio Art Galelry and the Novel Tea Book Shop, points out the newest addition to the space--the Mango Leaf Trading Company. Photo by Michele Meyers
Ormond Beach resident Mike Fanning offers free shuttle service to the First Saturday Art Walk attendees on Aug. 2. He has lived in Ormond for 63 years and often shares history of the area while he drives. Photo by Michele Meyers
Another Day in Paradise lead singer and guitarist Devin James performs at The Locals Mix Music Expo at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens on Saturday, Aug. 2 Photo by Michele Meyers
Another Day in Paradise lead singer Devin James (right) and guitarist Tyler Levey (left) perform at The Locals Mix Music Expo at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens on Saturday, Aug. 2 Photo by Michele Meyers
The Locals Mix social media guru Brittany Fornier takes photos of performers during the music expo at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens on Saturday, Aug. 2 Photo by Michele Meyers
Faith Hannon closes the Gold Leaf Coffee Co. for the night at the end of Ormond Beach First Saturday Art Walk on Aug. 2. She said they had a great turn out. Photo by Michele Meyers
Artist Mary Unson does a wood burning etch at the Art Spotlight during the Ormond Beach First Saturday Art Walk on Aug. 2. Photo by Michele Meyers
The front space of Art Spotlight is home to a black and white photography exhibition at the Ormond Beach First Saturday Art Walk on Aug. 2. Photo by Michele Meyers
A guitarist plays at the Art Spotlight during the Ormond Beach First Saturday Art Walk on Aug. 2. Photo by Michele Meyers
Art Spotlight co-owners Teri Althouse (left) and Thays Franca (right). Photo by Michele Meyers
Artist Annye Docherty (left), Rachel (center) and performer Snakpak (right) hang out on the rooftop of the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens at The Locals Mix Music Expo on Saturday, Aug. 2. Photo by Michele Meyers
Artist Annye Docherty (left), Rachel (center) and performer Snakpak (right) hang out on the rooftop of the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens at The Locals Mix Music Expo on Saturday, Aug. 2. Photo by Michele Meyers
Novel Tea Book Shop co-owners Stephanie Gonter (left) and artist Angel Lowden (right). Photo by Michele Meyers
Shuttle driver Mike Fanning (right) jokes around with Robert Sindler (left) and Theresa Martin (center) as they prepare to board the van at the Ormond Beach First Saturday Art Walk on Aug. 2. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Art Spotlight gallery is usually the hub of activity during the Ormond Beach First Saturday Art Walks. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Art Spotlight gallery is always part of the monthly Ormond Beach First Saturday Art Walks. Art enthusiasts can either enter from Granada Blvd. or New Britain Ave. Photo by Michele Meyers
Wood burning artist Mary Unson works on a piece at the Art Spotlight during the Ormond Beach First Saturday Art Walk on Aug. 2. Photo by Michele Meyers
Golden Leaf Coffee Co. employee Faith Hannon laughs as she closes the business for the night after the Ormond Beach First Saturday Art Walk wrapped up. Photo by Michele Meyers
Golden Leaf Coffee Co. employee Faith Hannon closes the business for the night after the Ormond Beach First Saturday Art Walk wrapped up. Photo by Michele Meyers
Artist Amber Lyn (left) with friends-- Ormond Beach residents John and Valerie Beuhmeyer. Photo by Michele Meyers
Artist Amber Lyn Dixon stands with her truck which she uses for her business as an arborist. Dixon's art is being exhibited at the Gold Leaf Coffee Co. and the Art Spotlight. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Wabi Sabi Hibachi on Wheels food truck sells food to Ormond Beach First Saturday Art Walk and Music Expo goers on Aug. 2 outside of the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens. Photo by Michele Meyers
The U.S. Coast Guard was the pop-up exhibit at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens from July 1 through Aug. 24. Photo by Michele Meyers
The U.S. Coast Guard is the pop-up exhibit at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens from July 1 through Aug. 24. Photo by Michele Meyers
Ian Kelley performs at the Locals Mix original music competition on the rooftop of the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens on Saturday, Aug. 2. Photo by Michele Meyers
Artist Annye Docherty takes a moment to enjoy the view from the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens rooftop during the Locals Mix original music competition on Saturday, Aug. 2. Photo by Michele Meyers
Artist Annye Docherty and boyfriend Chris Boyle represent their "creative and entertainment company" Intuition Collective at the Locals Mix original music competition on Saturday, Aug. 2 on the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens rooftop . Photo by Michele Meyers
Musician and Locals Mix open mic night host Matt Wall stands behind his daughter Alice Wall as she takes a video of one of the bands at the music expo held on the rooftop of the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens on Saturday, Aug. 2. Photo by Michele Meyers
Artist Annye Docherty paints live during the Locals Mix original music competition on the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens rooftop on Saturday, Aug. 2. Photo by Michele Meyers
Art enthusiasts, music connoisseurs and explorers ventured out to enjoy Ormond Beach’s Art Walk event on Aug. 2. Always held on the first Saturday of the month from 3-7 p.m., family and friends either strolled from gallery-to-gallery in the city’s historic arts district or grabbed a free shuttle driven by longtime resident Mike Fanning.
Art appreciation, music enlightenment and the fun continued at the Ormond Memorial Arts Museum and Gardens where the pop-up exhibition included works by the U.S. Coast Guard and a Music and Arts Expo presented by The Locals Mix until 9 p.m.
Fanning said he has been shuttling for the art walk for about seven years. His involvement began when he met Julia Truilo, who was Ormond Beach MainStreet’s executive director at the time. She was starting a farmers’ market and was looking for someone to setup and work on Thursday mornings. He just happened to have the only qualification required — willingness to wake up at four in the morning.
“I thought, well, I’m working for myself — I don’t have anything to do other than my store, so I took Thursdays off to do the farmers’ market,” he said. “Then while everyone else was buying sports cars, I bought a 15 passenger van for my midlife crisis. Julia found out and asked if I wanted to shuttle.”
The shuttle service gives attendees quick access to the galleries and businesses involved with the art walk — Art Spotlight, Fern & Fable Books, Frame of Mind - Gold Leaf Coffee Co., Nauti Pets, Novel Tea Book Shop, Neighborhood Scoop, Ocean Art Gallery, Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens, The Casements, The Pocket Jeweler and The Studio by Artist Angel Lowden. Availability to a shuttle service that passes the galleries on a continuous loop is important for Angel Lowden, who owns The Studio and is co-owner of the Novel Tea Book Shop with Stephanie Gonter, which share a space located off the main corridor on Tomoka Ave.
As a community-based organization, The Locals Mix is dedicated to supporting and showcasing local creatives. There are many ways for community members to get involved whether by becoming a member, volunteering or participating as musicians, artists or vendors. We also welcome sponsors or supporters who share our mission of nurturing creativity in our community." — DANNA ALENCAR, founder of The Locals Mix
Lowden opened her studio in 2022. The following year, Gonter brought the Novel Tea Book Shop in as a pop-up during the August art walk. The two discussed a trial run of three months.
Gonter said she never left. They are currently 50-50 partners in the book shop and run local nonprofit Creative Chapter together. The organization gives them a platform on which they focus on education and advocacy for the arts and literature in the community. They recently opened a cafe in the book shop, where 50% of all proceeds go toward their nonprofit.
“We make great partners because we focus on different things from each other which makes it harmonious,” Lowden said.
Currently, their top selling photographer is local artist Kyra Lieberman. Her sister Reese Lieberman sells her poetry books in the shop.
“We give the opportunity for photographers and young, up-and-coming creatives to be able to showcase their work or put their creations in here to see how it goes,” Lowden said.
First-time art walkers, Joan Reilly and Alice Lopez traveled from Aventura in Miami-Dade County to Ormond Beach for a vacation. Reilly said they had not anticipated that the event would be as good as it was. Lopez said the artists were very inclusive and welcoming, making them feel like family.
“Enjoyed the artwork immensely because a lot of times you go to art shows and they’re so off-putting,” Lopez said. “Everyone here is so friendly. They’ll tell you their motivation or they’ll tell you what inspires or will tell you where the medium came from so you have a history with with what you’re seeing and watching.”
Last month, Art Spotlight co-founder and artist Teri Althouse said they had 419 people come though the gallery in four hours. They usually average 300 people.
“The Ormond Art Walk gives us exposure,” Althouse said. “We have 27 local artists here in the back of the gallery but in the front of the gallery every month we do an open call show. So we can have 50-60 artists. This is an opportunity for people to come and see 50 or 60 completely different styles of work. It’s been incredible.”
Art Spotlight visitors were given a chance to select their favorite work of art as they perused the gallery. The People’s Choice Award went to Lottie Albright for her submission of an image of a Ponce Inlet dune to the open call Black & White Photography Show, which runs through Aug. 30.
Art created by members of the U.S. Coast Guard were part of a pop-up exhibition at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens. The exhibition is part of the Coast Guard Art Program, which uses fine art as an outreach tool for educating diverse audiences about the Coast Guard, according to the OMAM website. The museum also sponsored the Music and Arts Expo presented by The Locals Mix.
Danna Alencar founded The Locals Mix in 2020 and is celebrating the fourth year of the Music and Arts Expo’s inception which features an original music competition. Videos of the musicians’ performances are posted on The Locals Mix YouTube channel where people from around the world can vote for their favorite performer.
Aug. 2 was the second Music and Arts Expo out of four — the next one being the final on Oct. 4 and the awards show on Dec. 6. Alencar said every expo is a celebration of local talent, artisans and vendors. This year, Annye Docherty demonstrated live painting throughout the event as Fun Coast Bartending served up specialty cocktails and snacks. Patrons could also grab a bite at the Wabi Sabi food truck and browse specialty vendors — Sirens Touch-Handmade Treasures, Squeaky Clucks Artisan Soaps Co., Chick by the Sea, UL Creations, Friday Bodycare and Anastasia’s Permanent Jewelry.
Round two performers included Robby Shambles, Chris Kennedy, Ian Kelley, SnakPak, Wispi and Another Day in Paradise.
“As a community-based organization, The Locals Mix is dedicated to supporting and showcasing local creatives,” Alencar said. “There are many ways for community members to get involved whether by becoming a member, volunteering or participating as musicians, artists or vendors. We also welcome sponsors or supporters who share our mission of nurturing creativity in our community.”