Sarasota, Florida’s #1 beach, Siesta Key Beach will be transformed to an art gallery this weekend with sand sculpting.  Artists from all over the world, including Lithuania and Bulgaria will compete at the Seventh Annual Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival this weekend.

Sand and water will be the medium for the artists that wow the thousands of spectators that attend the event which is a partnership between the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce and Mote Marine Laboratory.

The Crystal Classic was founded in 2010 and is modeled after other annual competitions in Texas, Virginia, Washington and Fort Myers. Master sculptors earn their title by competing and winning first in amateur contests (such as the one held on Siesta Key in May) and then advancing to the master competitions. First prize is $5,000.

A bit further south, to Venice, will take you to the Chalk Festival.  According to Denise Kowal, the events founder, this year will include smaller pieces with more 3-D art than in previous years. “There’s an almost unlimited amount of space out here, so artists are unrestricted in the size of work they create, the number they can make. It’s the first time that the 3D artists will be able to expand and explore new ways of doing art.” The festival moved from Burns Court in 2013 to Venice in 2014, and it grows each year. More than 1,000 artists apply, and nearly 250 will attend this year. Many of the 3D artists, including the renowned Kurt Wenner, who invented the 3D illusion art in the 1980s, will be arriving early to get started on their designs.

Attendees are encouraged to interact with the artists and with the works, take their own photos and make their own memories. Artists will work on their pieces throughout the weekend, with most of them completed by Sunday afternoon. Monday is mainly a viewing day as reported in the Herald Tribune Ticket.

So much happens in Sarasota County in the fall season.  Plan accordingly so you won’t miss the cool opportunities to enjoy the weather and enrich yourself and family with local art events.

Sarasota, Florida’s #1 beach, Siesta Key Beach will be transformed to an art gallery this weekend with sand sculpting.  Artists from all over the world, including Lithuania and Bulgaria will compete at the Seventh Annual Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival this weekend.

Sand and water will be the medium for the artists that wow the thousands of spectators that attend the event which is a partnership between the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce and Mote Marine Laboratory.

The Crystal Classic was founded in 2010 and is modeled after other annual competitions in Texas, Virginia, Washington and Fort Myers. Master sculptors earn their title by competing and winning first in amateur contests (such as the one held on Siesta Key in May) and then advancing to the master competitions. First prize is $5,000.

A bit further south, to Venice, will take you to the Chalk Festival.  According to Denise Kowal, the events founder, this year will include smaller pieces with more 3-D art than in previous years. “There’s an almost unlimited amount of space out here, so artists are unrestricted in the size of work they create, the number they can make. It’s the first time that the 3D artists will be able to expand and explore new ways of doing art.” The festival moved from Burns Court in 2013 to Venice in 2014, and it grows each year. More than 1,000 artists apply, and nearly 250 will attend this year. Many of the 3D artists, including the renowned Kurt Wenner, who invented the 3D illusion art in the 1980s, will be arriving early to get started on their designs.

Attendees are encouraged to interact with the artists and with the works, take their own photos and make their own memories. Artists will work on their pieces throughout the weekend, with most of them completed by Sunday afternoon. Monday is mainly a viewing day as reported in the Herald Tribune Ticket.

So much happens in Sarasota County in the fall season.  Plan accordingly so you won’t miss the cool opportunities to enjoy the weather and enrich yourself and family with local art events.