Visit South Walton Announces the 15th Annual South Walton Artist of the Year Award
Visit South Walton announced the 2017 South Walton Artist of the Year at the 30th Annual Walton County TDC Annual Meeting held at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort on October 11, 2016.
“Marisol Gullo, an accomplished acrylic artist who owns and operates the Not Too Shabby Boutique in Santa Rosa Beach, was selected following a record-setting year for applications for the 15th Annual Award from the Walton County TDC,” announced Jay Tusa, Executive Director for Visit South Walton.
The Artist of the Year community recognition program promotes the creative culture of Walton County. Also recognized were Lori Drew as 2017 Mixed Media Artist and Velia LaLa as Sculptor of the Year.
“I am so honored to be awarded Artist of the Year and now I have this opportunity to give back to our community,” said Gullo. “I want to promote South Walton the best way I can through my art, through my store, through my story.”
Gullo has quite the South Walton story to tell. After moving to South Walton from Costa Rica in 2001, she has enjoyed the thriving and supportive artist community which attracts the creative class of “makers” to Walton County. Her colors, textures and subjects are inspired by her South Walton surroundings.
“I am inspired by local coastal birds, marine life, florals and the many things one finds along the sugar-white sand,” she said.
The new Artist of the Year joins an impressive list including Melody Bogle, Juan Francisco Adaro, Mary Hong, Andy Saczynski, Allison Craft, Allison Wickey, Michael Granberry, Michael McCarty, Donna Burgress, Bill Stephenson, Phil Kiser, Justin Gaffrey, Susan Lucas, and Dorothy Starbuck.
“As the 2017 Artist of the Year, Marisol Gullo fills a special role in the community public arts program,” said Tusa. “By promoting one Artist of the Year each year, Visit South Walton also selects a spokesperson to represent the thriving local creative community that helps create the lifestyle that makes South Walton such a dynamic and attractive place to visit.”
The Artist of the Year program commissioned artwork is on public display at the Visit South Walton Visitor Center located at 25777 US Hwy 331 South in Santa Rosa Beach.
