10th Annual Downtown West Palm Beach Art Festival Returns

×

Expand

In need of some last-minute, personalized holiday gifts? Look no further than the Downtown West Palm Beach Art Festival, returning to the picturesque Rosemary Square from Dec. 5-6 for its 10^th annual event. After having planned, and then subsequently canceled, the original event in April and a follow-up event in November, artists and event organizers alike are excited for this much-awaited, art-filled weekend.

“We’ve sent into the city a huge, very intense protocol for social distancing,” says Elaine Laurent, the art show director. This extensive protocol includes mandatory masks, four entrance and exit points, limits on the number of people allowed a booth at a time, hand-washing stations, and available gloves and masks for those needing extra protection. “We’ve also had a lot of conversations with artists about how to set up their booths differently to maximize that ability so they can have someone looking at jewelry on the outside while they’re dealing with someone on the inside,” Laurent explains.

Having worked with the festival since its first year, Laurent’s enthusiasm about this weekend and appreciation for the festival is almost tangible. Throughout the year she has put on several bigger events throughout the United States and feels confident that the event meets safety requirements and is well-timed for our South Florida community. “We feel like it’s the right time to be out there, the stores are in need of foot traffic. It’s Christmas time, people are purchasing gifts and getting one-of-a-kind things for their loved ones and friends and family.”

Included in those one-of-a-kind gifts are artist Joshua Fradis’ stunning blown glass sculptures. This year’s festival will mark his third with the West Palm show, and he says after having grown up in California, “I discovered that the best art shows took place in the fall/winter season in South Florida. I would travel from California to Florida every season with all my glasswork until I moved here in 2018.”

Having been an artist for years, he understands firsthand how the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the income stream of others like him throughout the country. “Artists, in particular, have suffered. Especially those of us who depend on the art festival scene as a main source of income,” Fradis says.

Mixed media artist Jennifer Peck echoes this idea. “Many of the shows have been canceled or postponed, and of course that’s disappointing for us,” she says. However, she also mentions that business has been booming because many people have spent their time at home remodeling and are finally getting to the fun part – buying art.

×

Expand

Peck encourages people to come to the show. She explains, “Art is about connection. Artists put so much of themselves into their pieces, and patrons of the shows will feel emotionally linked to certain artists and pieces. I think right now we need that connection more than ever.”

Located in Rosemary Square, this venue is an artist’s paradise within itself. “The place looks great, with the fountain and brickwork it’s such a gorgeous venue – if people haven’t seen it they need to come out just to see the new venue and the way they’ve done it,” Laurent says. Fradis agrees, “The newly renovated Rosemary Square is a beautiful backdrop to display our work and the energy of the people is always positive and receptive.” With brickwork all the way down to Fern from Rosemary, large-scale installations throughout the area, and murals bringing color to the walls, Rosemary Square is a place where visitors can’t help but feel vibrant and lively.

Laurent says, “We are inviting everyone to come out. It’s a mindful, artful, social-distanced event.” The show is also doing an RSVP with Eventbrite so patrons can sign up for a time to come in and receive assurance that it won’t be packed when they visit.

For more information, visit artfestival.com.