Hernando County Arts Council wishes to issue a special invitation to the Hernando community, welcoming them on December 2nd for the 1st Saturday’s Hernando Beach Front Porch Art Walk on Shoal Line Blvd., 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
“There will be 41 booths with 43 participants,” reads an event notice. “We will be recognizing the artists who have participated in every event. There will be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes for the best booth. Be sure to get your free ticket for a gift card raffle for Brian’s and Silver Dolphin. It will be a perfect event to shop for holiday gifts for family and friends! Stay late and have dinner, then join the fun at Hernando Beach Yacht Club for the Toys for Tots Christmas Boat Parade at 5:00 p.m. Make 1st Saturday’s Hernando Beach your destination.”
The Hernando Beach Front Porch Art Walk is a grand showcase for artists and their artistic masterpieces, planned every first Saturday of the month. And, says Arts Council spokesperson Jessica Knutila, the art walk takes on a special meaning this time of year.
“The Front Porch Art Walk on Saturday, December 2, allows you to get your holiday shopping done with local artists,” she said. “This is a great opportunity to meet local artists of all mediums – jewelry, sculptures and home decor, mixed media, and fine art paintings! The best part is that this is a monthly event, so there is always another one right around the corner. It’s a fantastic opportunity to meet local artists, get yourself something special for your home or one-of-a-kind gifts for loved ones.”
Knutila sees the Art Walk as a vital Arts Council event calendar component.
“The Hernando County Fine Arts Council has been working hard to support more arts happenings throughout the county. We are thankful to the selfless volunteers who created the Front Porch Art Walk as an opportunity for artists to exhibit on the coastal side of town!” she said. “Every month, we are reaching new artists with this event – some have been creating in Hernando County for many years and are exhibiting for the very first time, which is so special.”
They will find something to like at the art walk, regardless of their artistic tastes. They can choose from paintings of various varieties (Linda Boykin, Sue Beach, GloriaJean Schoenagle, Robin Wheeler), oil paintings (Jana and Larry Withers, Vicki Yeager, Angelina Farinelli, Vivian Becker), watercolor paintings (Bonnie Pellage, Nancy Itani, Lyn Betchel, Ken and Rosann Ruck), acrylic paintings (Danny Young, Steve Benevides, Barbara Olsavsky, Barbara Shaver, Siobhan Boismier), resin art (Tiffany Meissner, Angelina Farinelli, Lori Abbazia, Sharon Eades), mixed media (JoEllen McCartney, Roxanne Campbell), jewelry (Judy Katz, Christina Gravino, Kate Wood, Alessandra Lopez), abstract act (Jessica Sams), plus specialty items such as beaded apple watch bands (Marlies Blackford), Dave Kunkel’s handmade kitchen decor, hand-painted beach stones from Anna Hesford, Gena Griggs’ crochet art, clothes and crafts (Susan Long), Lynette Voutier-Cyr’s embroidery crafts, Pat and Sheryl Coggins’ arts and crafts, Bryan Kelly’s Gystoku fish prints, Jeanna Chyzcewski’s soy candles, fantasy art (Michael Nicholson), photography (Joan LoBianco, Judy Folde), and coastal decor (Vohan Zhamkochyan).
Diane Greenwell, HCFAC Secretary who spearheads the Front Porch Art Walk, said, “With more than 40 artists, the 1st Saturday’s Hernando Beach Front Porch Art Walk offers something affordable for everyone. Fine arts will include paintings in beautiful oils, acrylics, watercolors and other mediums of landscapes, abstracts, coastal scenes, nature and more. Prints are available from many of the artists starting as low as $15.00. Professional framed nature photography will also be available.”
In addition to beautiful art, Greenwell notes that many exquisitely created crafts will be available at the art walk.
“From the fine crafts, there will be cutting boards, wooden bowls, men’s and women’s jewelry, Apple Watch bands, clothing, tabletop linens, and home decor, all handcrafted by local artists,” she said.
Whether art or craft, each item sold at the art walk is locally made. “The best part of shopping at the Hernando Beach Front Porch Art Walk is that all items are locally made and your purchases help stimulate the local economy to help small businesses survive,” she said.
Greenwell notes that the Front Porch Art Walk is growing and expanding. “At the December 2nd Hernando Beach Front Porch Art Walk, we will be offering some tokens of appreciation for those who have attended the most shows, the best decorated Christmas booth, and gift card raffles,” she said. “We have artists offering items ranging from $10 to $5,700, so there is something for everyone at this event. The Hernando Beach Front Porch Art Walk has also teamed up with the Coastal Hernando Business Group and will work with them to continue growing art opportunities in Hernando Beach. We have many new ideas for 2024 and expect to start seeing more artists from around the state participating, attracting people from beyond Hernando County. We are excited about growing art opportunities within Hernando County and the economic impact that it will create.”
Joan LoBianco is a nature and wildlife photographer who, inspired by a father photographer and college art and photography classes, became a Click Mom who followed her family around with a camera. She photographed family and children’s portraits and weddings and taught in Hernando schools for 29 years. Recently retired, she is an avid Spring Hill Camera Club member, where she has won many awards in monthly competitions. She has photos on exhibit at Gallery 201, City Hall in Brooksville, and has actively exhibited her work there for the past two years. She was the 1st place winner of the Hernando County Fine Arts Council’s second annual art show and won awards in photography contests around Florida. Recently, she has been participating in the Front Porch Art Walk in Hernando Beach.
“The event is a great place for holiday shopping because there are unique and creative items ranging from handmade children’s clothing and jewelry to framed photographs, fabulous artwork, and crafts for purchase. There is something unique and special for everyone on your list,” said Joan LoBianco.
Visit the Hernando Beach Front Porch Art Walk website to register as an exhibitor or a sponsor.
https://hernando beach front porch art walk.com/
HCFAC Secretary Diane Greenwell, who spearheads the Front Porch Art Walk, said, “It means so much to our community to have the artists and public’s support to continue growing the event. We hope those who haven’t been to the art walk will come out and experience what they’ve been missing!”
You can also find more details on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HernandoBeachFrontPorchArtWalk.
[Credit: Jessica Knutila, Hernando County Fine Arts Council]
