Artists of the Year collaborate at Market Shops

Artists of the Year collaborate at Market Shops

By Deborah Wheeler

debbie_wheeler@link.freedom.com

The Market Shops at Sandestin has donated a storefront for an Art in Public Places exhibition through the month of July.

The showing consists of a first-ever collaboration among South Walton artists who have held the title of Artist of the Year.

Begun in 2003, there are presently only six members of this elite group of Walton County artists - Donna Burgess, Bill Stephenson, Phil Kiser, Justin Gaffrey, Susan Lucas, and Dorothy Starbuck.

The idea for a collaborative exhibit originated with Burgess, who is the current titleholder.

"Artists can be very competitive because retail takes away the spirit and beauty of what we do. In the early days, we all shared work, joy and co-ops, but these days it's unusual for artists to group together. Now, most are individual galleries and they don't collaborate," said Burgess.

The six artists are diverse in expression of their crafts.

Burgess is known for her dog portraiture and aquatic scenes in watercolors; Stephenson is a woodturner; Kiser is a glass mosaic artist; Gaffrey is known for his realistic, vibrant wildflowers in acrylics; Lucas, oblique landscapes; and Starbuck, realistic landscapes.

In concert, the works of the six create an interesting exhibit for art lovers.

Burgess is showing some of her newest work in the exhibit alongside her more familiar watercolors. Her newest creations show a different side of the artist and her scope of expression. The new pieces, created with deep shades of acrylic paints, show her romantic and imaginative side - subjects enjoying romantic interludes. The unrecognizable faces of the subjects leave viewers free to exercise their own imaginations.

Tiffany McCaskill, the TDC's new product development manager, said the collaborative exhibit will be an annual event.

"Originally, the exhibit was just going to be for her (Burgess). However, she asked, ‘Why not invite all former artists of the year to be a part of it?' The other artists were all very excited. We plan on making this an annual event and hope that future Artists of the Year will be as open minded as Donna and not mind sharing the spotlight."

A new titleholder will be announced in October.

The exhibit is located in Suite 23 across from The Donna Burgess Gallery at The Market Shops at Sandestin.