Call for Art For the Water State Festival

The following is an edited version of information sent by OSFR board member Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson.  In addition to her many other walks in life, she is a talented professional artist who manages the art gallery at Rum 138.

Many of us realize we are fortunate to live in the area of the world’s largest concentration of freshwater springs and here is an opportunity to celebrate that.

Following the edited letter is more information on the art event.  OSFR will also have a table there.

This is a big event for our area, please try to attend.

jim.tatum@oursantaferiver.org
– A river is like a life: once taken,
it cannot be brought back © Jim Tatum

All art that relates to water is being sought out for the first State of Water exhibit.    A few options are free for us to take advantage of and a few, like the competition do cost money ($25).

Call for art is open until Mar 26th for the State of Water Juried Art Exhibition at the Cade Museum.

The Water State Festival at Depot Park: April 15th 12pm -6pm (Setup 9am -11:30am) Business Vendors = $130 Nonprofit Vendors = $65

If you want to submit a piece of art and cannot afford the $25 fee, please come see me at Rum 138.  I have some funding to assist serious artists with submitting artwork for this event.

 One hundred years from now, the people will ask about the art on our walls in our homes, offices, etc…but not in nature.  They will wonder why people didn’t do more to protect them?

Thanks for being a part of this regional landscape art movement to protect the Florida springs.

Culturally, your creative water inspired art may be the thing that turns the awareness of the viewer towards better protection. The arts are so much more far reaching into a human’s soul than the politics that divide us, reach inside and inspire so your grands’ grands… can be a bare witness to the coolness of springs’ splendor.

-Merrillee

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The State of Water art show at the Cade Museum opens Thursday April 13th and runs thru April 30th. Museum hours are 10am – 4pm Thursday thru Sunday (closed Mon/Tues/Wed).

A museum admission fee applies to see the exhibit – free admission will be during the Saturday, April 15th, Water State Festival at Depot Park.

We are intrinsically and deeply tied to water, especially in Florida. The waters that surround us in the landscape, the waters that flow underneath our feet in the aquifer – they nourish us, connect us, and inspire us.

The works in this exhibition explore various “states” of water, from literal to figurative – whether physically transcending states from liquid, to solid, to gas; to a flowing state of a winding river; to an emotional state flowing down a cheek; surfacing on skin in fear; to a state of advancement from rising seas.

The art show, presented by Play Hard Florida, will be held at the Cade Museum! The show, benefiting three environmental nonprofits, will showcase original works of art by the most talented artists in North Central Florida.

Established and emerging artists in the region are eligible to submit entries for consideration. Entries are due by 10:00 pm EST Sunday March 26, 2023. (The call for entry can be found on www.callforentry.org – the page link is on this event page.)

$1,200 in cash awards to the top 4 artists selected by the jury. An awards reception night will be planned – stay tuned for details.

The first Saturday of the exhibition (April 15th) will coincide with a community festival “The Water State Festival” outside the Cade Museum at Depot Park.

There will be FREE admission to the museum and art show during the festival hours of 10am – 4pm on Saturday, April 15th!