MATTIE KELLY ARTS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 2016 FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
ARTIST AWARD WINNERS

$10,000 in cash prizes awarded to 27 artists hailing from 16 different cities
for artwork representing 13 different art mediums

The 21stthAnnual Festival of the Arts drew more than 6,000 art lovers

DESTIN, FLA. — (Oct. 31, 2016) On a warm and sunny fall weekend the Emerald Coast arts scene sparkled a little brighter as 27 local and regional artists who ventured to the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast to exhibit in the 21st annual Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation Festival of the Arts were awarded $10,000 in cash art prize awards honors. The two-day signature art celebration held Oct. 29 and 30 in the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village in Destin, Fla. featured exhibits of more than 100 artists from across the United States and Europe showcasing a diverse palette of artistic styles in 15 different art mediums.
Marcia Hull, Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation CEO, remarked, “This signature cultural event wouldn’t be possible without the 37 festival sponsors, over 100 community volunteers and art enthusiasts who attend to support our arts and education outreach initiatives.”
Guest judges Jerry R. Johnson, Professor of Art and Design at Troy University, Troy, Alabama and Nancy Raia, Community Outreach Director of the Eastern Shore Art in Fairhope, Ala., awarded 28 ribbons that each included a cash prize. Honors were given for one Best in Show, three Awards of Excellence, five Awards of Merit and 10 Judge’s Recognition Awards given to artists whose work reflected exceptional talent and craftsmanship. Seven of the winners exhibited in the Collaborative Exhibit, which featured emerging adult artists and local student artists.
Festivalgoers deemed metal artist David Griesmyer of McConnelsville, Ohio the 2016 winner of the “People’s Choice” Artist Award. His exhibit included life-sized metal sculptures including a foliage filled tree, a proud peacock and a wistful ballerina.
Kathleen Broaderick whose striking silver-blue “Bonita” graced the official poster, t-shirt and Festival guide as winner of the 2016 Poster Art Contest also received an Award of Merit making this first-time MKAF exhibitor a two-time winner.
For the third consecutive year, the Best in Show winner of the Collaborative Art Exhibit was awarded to a high school student (Natalie Cross from Niceville High School.) The Collaborative Art Exhibit features adults and students competing for the Special McIlroy Awards in honor of the late Patricia McIlroy, Destin’s First Lady and an MKAF advocate and patron.
“We were thrilled to see 31 new artists join us for this year’s annual Festival of the Arts,” said Deb Nissley, artist market chair and Festival co-producer. “We are vigilant about ensuring the festival includes quality artists and a variety of artistic styles and mediums, and I think this 21st anniversary year’s diverse range of winners reflects that.”
MKAF will begin accepting artist and poster entry applications for the 2017 Festival of the Arts in February 2017, which will be held on October 28-29, 2017.
The full roster of artists honored follows:
Best in Show Winner ($1,600)
Lena Reznik, Cumming, Ga. – Oil & Acrylic

Award of Excellence Winners ($800)
Juan Francisco Adaro, Freeport, Fla.¬– Mixed Media
Gayle Campbell, Valparaiso, Fla. – Jewelry
Jamie Babula, Panama City Beach, FL – Acrylic & Pencil/Graphite

Award of Merit Winners ($400)
Claire Whitmore, Huntsville, Ala. – Fiber
Gary Worthington, Destin, Fla. – Mixed Media
Kathleen Broaderick, Miramar Beach, Fla. – Oil
Maria Spies, Silverhill, Ala. – Clay

Judges Recognition Award Winners ($200)
Tony Krysinsky, Pensacola, Fla. –Mixed Media
Jordan Aucoin, Miramar Beach, Fla. – Sculpture
Hannah Spiegelman, Panama City, Fla. – Acrylic Gouache
Connie Nabholz, Lynn Haven, Fla. – Jewelry
Martin Figlinski, Lynn Haven, Fla. – Wood & Acrylic
Bill Fussell, Panama City, Fla. – Jewelry
Inka Smith, Cantonment, Fla. – Jewelry
Jeff & Jaky Felix, Titus, Ala. – Glass
Michael Fagan, Pensacola, Fla. – Mixed Media
George Bragg, Panama City Beach, Fla. –Metal

People’s Choice Award ($800)
David Griesmyer, McConnelsville, Oh. – Metal Sculpture

Poster Art Contest Winner ($500)
Kathleen Broaderick, Miramar Beach, Fla. ¬– “Bonita” – Oil

Collaborative Exhibit Winners
Best in Show ($250), Natalie Cross, Niceville High School
Adult 1st Place ($100), Ian Fagan, Pensacola, Fla.
Adult 2nd Place ($75), John Murphy, DeFuniak Springs, Fla.
Adult 3rd Place ($50), Linda Kernick, Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
Student 1st Place ($100), Samantha Durkin, Niceville High School
Student 2nd Place ($75), Dakota Voyce, Crestview High School
Student 3rd Place ($50), Annalisse McKee, Fort Walton Beach High School
More than 6,000 art lovers attended the sunshine-filled two-day Festival. Thanks to the generous support of 39 local business and media sponsors and a team of more than 100 volunteers, art lovers of all ages were be able to watch artists create works of art before their eyes, browse art from dozens of emerging new and student artists, and get hands-on in the interactive children’s art station. Beyond the visual arts, the Festival featured six music acts performing two days of continual live music and a sampling of the local culinary arts scene. Entertaining street performers, lively art drawings and the sale of colorful keepsake souvenirs — all created a family-friendly festival feel.
Event proceeds help to fund MKAF’s cultural season of events and arts education outreach programs that serve populations of students and families, including children and adults with special needs and a wounded warrior initiative for our returning combat military and veterans suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder.

For more information on how you can become a member of MKAF, provide a donation or explore opportunities to get involved on a committee or the Board of Directors, call (850) 650-2226 find MKAF on Facebook or visit mattiekellyartsfoundation.org