Rotary sets 42nd Fine Arts Fest
The Rotary Club of Englewood will hold its 42nd Fine Arts Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 23, and Sunday, March 24.
Englewood’s Dearborn Street will feature original artwork and live music, hosting many artists displaying and selling their work. These artists and their creations are the stars of this two-day weekend art show.
Every handmade item is available, including jewelry, glass, paintings, photography, ceramics, sculpture and more. The festival also includes a variety of food trucks in Pioneer Plaza.
This year’s featured artist is Steve Whitlock, a native of Tampa raised in Naples. A fourth-generation plasterer by trade, he suffered a two-story fall on a job site in 1992 and had to seek another career. Interested in wildlife painting and a natural at watercolors, he applied to the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota.
In 1998, at 38 years old, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in illustration. Since then, he has focused on illustrating saltwater game fish and wildlife onto navigational charts, as well as very naturalistic fine art paintings. His main medium is acrylic, but he also works with watercolor and pencil.
Steve and his wife Lynn travel some 30 weeks a year from Texas to New York, participating in fine art shows and charity fishing tournaments. Steve and Lynn have sponsored CCA Florida since 2006, providing custom art for all the Florida and Texas CCA banquets.
The art show is free to the public, but Rotarians will ask for a $2 donation benefiting the Englewood Rotary Youth Foundation.
The Englewood Youth Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization supporting local youth activities, including over $50,000 for Lemon Bay High School scholarships.
Donations will be used to support area youth activities and literacy campaigns, such as the One Book One School program at Myakka River Elementary, Englewood Area Little League, Lemon Bay High School, Eagle Scout programs and Kid’s Needs.
Visit englewoodrotary.org.
