Images: A Festival of the Arts promises nearly 240 artists, music and more in NSB
New Smyrna Beach's unique art scene is a constant presence for locals and visitors year-round, with exhibits, museums and festivals that celebrate every medium.
Perhaps one of the most iconic of these events, “Images: A Festival of the Arts,” will celebrate its 48th edition later this month.
Nearly 50,000 visitors will peruse more than 200 artist booths at Riverside Park, enjoying the music, food and perhaps looking for an artwork to take home over the festival’s three days.
The annual event started as an all-volunteer show in 1976. It has been presented by the Atlantic Center for the Arts since 2004.
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“That is all due to our community’s support,” said Cayla Bartolucci-Kaualoku, the festival’s coordinator, in an interview. “We are nothing without our artists and our community.”
Images to feature ‘great variety’ of artwork
This year's festival, which kicks off at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26, includes 238 artists from all over the country and Canada, Bartolucci-Kaualoku said.
“This year we did have around 600 applications,” she said, adding that the juried selection process lasted between May and October 2023.
The number of artists chosen for this year is close to the festival’s usual target number of 225.
“There is something for everyone,” Bartolucci-Kaualoku said. “It’s a great variety. The artists display their work, which comes from their inspiration … and we have many mediums that are shown at the festival — paintings, drawings, fiber art, jewelry.”
She said this year’s featured artists include a mix of longtime participants as well as new artists.
The festival also gives away $30,000 in cash awards to participating artists through its judging process.
One of the awards will go to one of three “really special” young artists this year, Bartolucci-Kaualoku said.
The Trish Thompson Memorial Emerging Artist Award will give $1,500 to one of three Daytona State College art students appearing at the festival. Now in its third year, the award honors the “iconic educator and artist in our community,” Bartolucci-Kaualoku added.
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That and other awards of the festival will be announced at the artists dinner Saturday, Jan. 27.
What else is there besides artworks during Images festival?
Bartolucci-Kaualoku said that Images is a family-friendly event that hopes to offer something for everyone.
The festival will also feature a lineup of live musical performances for guests to enjoy at the festival’s main stage.
“There is something for everyone in the range of music,” said Heather Paternoster, the ACA’s development director who is also involved in the festival’s management, in an interview.
“On Saturday, we have Alex Kinsey performing,” Paternoster said of the singer/songwriter, who is known for having won the American version of “The X Factor” in 2013 when he performed in a duo act with singer Sierra Deaton.
“Kinsey is born and raised in Daytona Beach, and we were able to connect with him. Just to see our live stage grow and expand in what we are able to offer is pretty amazing,” she added.
Some of the other acts planned include:
Friday, Jan. 26: Savi Fernandez (pop/rock/folk) from 3-4 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 27: Steel Pan Man (steel drums) from 10-11 a.m.; Lords of Surf (rock) from 11:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.; Savi Fernandez from 1-2 p.m.; Oak Hill Drifters (Americana/country) from 4-5 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 28: NSB High School Hothouse Jazz Band from 10-11 a.m.; Chaz Underriner Quintet (jazz/funk/blues/folk) from 11:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.; Soul Taxi ft. Jeff White (reggae/soul) from 1-2 p.m.; Brown Bag Brass Band (New Orleans style horns/vocals) from 2:30-3:30 p.m.
The festival will also feature its regular student art exhibit, a partnership with Volusia County Schools that “showcases the artwork of young, emerging artists” from 20 district schools.
For the first time, Upward Trend Academy will be the festival’s “creative education sponsor.”
Upward Trend Academy is a “K-12 private school and pediatric ABA therapy center that serves students ages 2 to 22 with varying disabilities in New Smyrna Beach and surrounding areas,” according to the festival’s website.
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It will offer four free “creative and inclusive hands-on, take-away projects for children and their families,” which will include making “beaded flip flop magnets, seashell and bead windchimes, sun catchers and painted shells.”
Images and the NSB art scene
Images is approaching its 50th edition, and its popularity shows no signs dwindling down.
Paternoster has been with the ACA for more than 10 years, during which time she's been involved with the festival. Her role with Images is to help with logistics and management of the festival.
“This festival was started by volunteers, and they continue to be the backbone of not only Images but Atlantic Center for the Arts,” Paternoster said, adding that more than 100 volunteers work to make the festival happen.
She said the reason she thinks Images has been so successful is in part “because of the quality of artists that we have.”
“And the community craves, craves being a part of the arts,” she said. “And that speaks volumes, I think. Images is all about the artists … . We really listen to feedback from our artists and the community, and that’s why we have so many artists that return year after year.
“It is a tradition for many families — mine included. When Images comes around, it’s on people’s calendars."
She also highlighted the ubiquitous presence of art organizations, such as Artists Workshop, Atlantic Center for the Arts, the HUB on Canal, the galleries and festivals, which contribute to give New Smyrna Beach its unique artistic identity.
“Images alone generates over $1 million in economic impact here in New Smyrna Beach every year,” Paternoster said, adding that they hear the positive response from local businesses. “And that means a lot to us. Our community supports us, and we support our community.”
Images runs from 1-5 p.m., Friday, Jan. 26; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 27; and 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 28, at Riverside Park, 299 S. Riverside Drive.
The event is free to the public. For information, visit imagesartfestival.org or call 386-423-4733.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Images art festival coming soon to NSB. Here's what we know.
