Winners Announced For 50th Annual Gasparilla Arts Fest

TAMPA, FL — Selecting from a field of more than 250 acclaimed artists, juror Paul Galloway of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, chose the recipients of the 50th Annual Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts.

A total of $80,000 in award monies was awarded to the participating artists, including the $15,000 Raymond James Financial Best of Show Award.

"The Gasparilla Festival of the Arts has really impressed me with the breadth, quality and diversity of the works on view. It offers a wide range of approaches to art making, from in depth engagements with craft to contemporary issues. The festival is an incredibly impressive and rewarding experience," said Paul Galloway.

"We are honored to have Paul Galloway as our festival juror for our 50th anniversary year. We love our new location at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park,” said John Scheffel, president of the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts. “It offers a stunning environment to showcase these amazing works of art from so many talented artists from across the country, as well as bring the Tampa Bay community together to celebrate and be inspired by art.”

In addition to the award winners, the Tampa Museum of Art has selected "Arroyo # 9155" mixed media, by Kevin Knittel, to be added to its permanent collection.

The winners of the 50th Annual Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts are:

Raymond James Financial Best of Show Award ($15,000)

Dennis Peterson, St. Marys, OH | “Hirukan V”, Wood

Board of Directors Award ($9,000)

Nicario Jimenez, Naples, FL | “Immigration: The Daily Struggle”, Mixed Media

Roddy Brownlee Reed Award of Artistic Excellence ($5,000)

Nneka Jones, Tampa, FL | “Shooting Range Target”, Mixed Media

Mayor's Award ($4,000)

R. Michael Wommack, Langhorne, PA | “A Sense of Infinitude”, Drawing

President’s Award ($3,000)

Cheryl Mackey Smith, Fairview, NC | “Folds: Wings to Fly”, Ceramic

50th Anniversary Award ($2,000)

David Figueroa, Sanford, FL | “Growing Structure III”, Sculpture

B. T. Videtto Emerging Artist Award ($1,500)

Erin Oliver | “Karst Water”, Mixed Media

5 Studios Award of Merit ($1,300)

Jian Deng, Roslyn, NY | “Crab Farmer”, Photography

Amgen Inc. Award of Merit ($1,300)

Kristi Hyde, Atlanta, GA | “Divination”, Jewelry

Anne Marie Campbell & Sam Giunta Award of Merit ($1,300)

Rachel Adamiak, New Orleans, LA | “Multi Resin Petal Necklace”, Jewelry

api(+) Award of Merit ($1,300)

Chris Rom / Geoff Buddie, Swanton, OH | “Dart”, Mixed Media

ARTicles Art Gallery Award of Merit ($1,300)

Kevin Knittel, Wesley Chapel, FL | “Arroyo # 9155”, Mixed Media

DMG School Project Award of Merit ($1,300)

Andrew Madvin, Detroit, MI | “Iris Thorn”, Glass

FIRVA Capital Management Award of Merit ($1,300)

Gillian Kemper, Oklahoma City, OK | “Ravine”, Printmaking

Freese and Nichols, Inc. Award of Merit ($1,300)

Steve Uren, Grand Rapids, MI | “One Step Beyond”, Wood

GFA Emeritus Presidents Award of Merit ($1,300)

Jeff Eckert, Tampa, FL | “Sales Are Through the Roof”, Drawing

GFA Founders Award of Merit ($1,300)

Jeremy Griffith, Murphysboro, IL | “ Microcosom”, Glass

Harbinger Signs Award of Merit ($1,300)

Lina Auste, St. Petersburg, FL | “Coral”, Glass

In Memory of Adrienne & William O’Dowd Award of Merit ($1,300)

Melissa FInelli, Boston, MA | “Not So Tiny Bubbles”, Jewelry

J.J. Taylor Distributing Co. & Cigar City Brewing Award of Merit ($1,300)

C.W. Banfield, Howell, MI | “Antiqua Via, SC”, Photography

Jenkins Family Award of Merit ($1,300)

William Kidd, Lakeland, FL | “Untitled”, Ceramic

Jane and Vance Arnett Award of Merit ($1,300)

Adam Crowell, Bonneau, SC | “Songa”, Wood

Jennifer Malin and Marc Dahl Award of Merit ($1,300)

Leslie Peebles, Gainesville, FL | “Old Growth Giant”, Printmaking

Harold Scheffel Memorial Award of Merit ($1,300)

Cali Hobgood, Urbana, IL | “Blue Mask”, Photography

Kelly M. Klein Memorial Award of Merit ($1,300)

Wendy Zoschke, Springfield, IL | “Paisley”, Jewelry

Lindsay M. Marano Memorial Award of Merit ($1,300)

Glenn Woods, Palm Harbor, FL | “Bottle with Nickel Crystalline Glaze”, Ceramic

Juanita Cacioppo Award of Merit ($1,300)

Richard Currier, Micco, FL | “Solution Far Horizon”, Painting

Michael C. Gribbin, D.M.D. General & Cosmetic Dentistry Award of Merit ($1,300)

Spoon, Decatur, GA | “Shadows”, Painting

Oxford Exchange Award of Merit ($1,300)

Tina Leto, Chicago, IL | “Florida Thiste”, Photography

Red Fox Delivery Award of Merit ($1,300)

Bruce Peeso, Monson, MA | “Yesterday”, Painting

Shumaker, Loop and Kendrick Award of Merit ($1,300)

Kim Amell, Boone, NC | “Stormy & Wild”, Mixed Media

The Bank of Tampa Award of Merit ($1,300)

David Oleski, West Chester, PA | “Seven Lemons”, Painting

Tampa International Airport Award of Merit ($1,300)

Mark MacKinnon, Wappingers Falls, NY | “Hanuama Bay”, Photography

The Barrymore Hotel Tampa Riverwalk Award of Merit ($1,300)

William Kwamena-Poh, Savanna, GA | “Deborah’s Praise”, Watercolor

Tampa Electric and TECO People’s Gas Award of Merit ($1,300)

Bobby Goldsmith, Perkinston, MS | “Winter Barn”, Drawing

Wells Fargo Award of Merit ($1,300)

Henri Clifton, Chicago, IL | “The Neighborhood Watch”, Photography

Zukku Sushi Award of Merit ($1,300)

Phillip Singer, New Britain, PA | “The Outsider”, Painting

Lightning Foundation Scholastic Showcase Award ($1,000)

Lexi White | “Untitled”, Mixed Media

Lightning Foundation Scholastic Showcase High School Representative Award ($500)

Venice High School

This press release was produced by the Gasparilla Festival of Arts. The views expressed here are the author’s own.