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Art

The sky's the limit

Whether you're in the mood to browse or buy, the broad range of crafts and fine art on display at Out of the Blue Festival offers cool works and bright imaginings.

By LENNIE BENNETT
Published May 12, 2005

CLEARWATER - Rain or shine, heat or hail? No problem for Out of the Blue Festival of the Arts because it's out of the blue, gray or whatever other color the sky happens to be on Saturday and Sunday. Tucked inside Harborview Center in downtown Clearwater, Out of the Blue is smaller than its outdoor counterparts such as Mainsail or Gasparilla, with 62 artists exhibiting and selling their fine art and crafts. Nor does it offer some of the bells and whistles accompanying those larger shows - no entertainment, kids' craft tent or food vendors.

But there is plenty of art for a full morning or afternoon of viewing or shopping; it includes painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, ceramics, mixed media, prints, glass, jewelry and fiber. Think gifts. Okay, Mother's Day is history and Christmas a distant promise. But Father's Day is next month. And who says you can't give an empty wall, bare shelf or unadorned lapel an aesthetic lift, something to hang, place or pin on? If you need an official excuse to buy yourself something, consider Victoria Day, May 23 (for you Canadians); Memorial Day, May 30; and Flag Day, June 14.

Out of the Blue is sponsored by the Professional Association of Visual Arts and the city of Clearwater. Cash awards to artists totaling $10,000 will be given by judges Sandra Blain, professor emeritus of the University of Tennessee and director emeritus of Arrowmont School of Art and Crafts, and Cynthia Hollis, director of art exhibitions and programs at Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science in Tallahassee.

- Lennie Bennett can be reached at 727 893-8293 or lennie@sptimes.com

Out of the Blue Festival of the Arts is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Harborview Center, 300 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Admission is free. For information, call (727) 736-4036 or (727) 736-2466.

[Last modified May 11, 2005, 09:32:06]