Tenth Annual Suncoast Arts Festival Rocks The Wiregrass Mall!

By Gary Nager

One week after the tenth annual Suncoast Arts Festival, presented by Ed Morse Cadillac and hosted once again along Paseo Dr. at the Shops at Wiregrass mall to benefit “Arts in Education” in Pasco County the weekend of January 17-18, I still didn’t have information about who the actual juried prize winners were among the more-than-125 talented artists and artisans who took part in the event (because I could only attend on Saturday; the award winners weren’t named until Sunday and I have not yet seen any of the winners posted online). 

Even so, I believe that the estimated crowd of about 100,000 who took part and/or attended this year’s biggest-ever Arts Fest was a winner, thanks to the nearly perfect weather and the amazing selection of artworks and crafts in every possible medium, from handmade jewelry to oil, watercolor and acrylic paintings to hand-made chairs and so much more that yours truly ended up supporting three of the artists on hand by purchasing not only three framed rock music illustrations, but also an incredible, handmade Albert Einstein puppet and even some hand-carved (of wood) and hand-painted birds of paradise (below).

I also again came away impressed with the beautiful sidewalk chalk art displays (although many of the pieces were not yet completed when I left late Saturday afternoon), the great children’s art areas, the “Random Acts for Art” entertainment stage and so much more.

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On this page and pages 46-47 are many of the photos I shot when I wasn’t buying up everything in sight, including (on page 47) some of the businesses that took part in the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC)’s “Arts & Business Showcase” along less-crowded Piazza Ave. on Saturday.

From great, unique music to beautiful works of art and from fine, handmade jewelry to handmade leather vests and  purses, the tenth annual Suncoast Arts Festival  at the Shops at Wiregrass mall literally had something for everyone.

Among the events that weekend I didn’t get to shoot, there was an art contest, high school “emerging” artist displays, the Duncan McClellan Glass Etching Experience and even a “Phoneography” contest sponsored by Rasmussen College.

In other words, if you missed it, you really did miss something great.