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Art

House of God and art

Temple Beth-El opens its annual art festival on Sunday with a collection of lovely, finely worked pieces.

By LENNIE BENNETT
Published January 26, 2006

	[Images from Festival Beth-El]
	John Bayalis, St. Petersburg, Hurricane Season, watercolor.

ST. PETERSBURG - Thirty-three years ago, few galleries selling original art existed in the Tampa Bay area. Back then, thank goodness for art festivals. The Gasparilla Festival of the Arts in Tampa preceded it by several years, but Art Festival Beth-El filled a big void from its debut in 1973, mixing works by bay area artists with out-of-towners we would not easily have an opportunity to see.

Festival Beth-El is still going strong. It returns Sunday and Monday to Temple Beth-El, organized as always by a faithful core of mostly female volunteers.

Beth-El sets itself apart from most festivals in its vetting process.

"All our artists are handpicked by our committee as opposed to a jury selection process," says Ann Soble, one of its longtime members. "We set the show up as a gallery instead of having booths, and the artists don't have to be here. Also, this is a fundraiser for our community outreach programs."

It's also much smaller than other festivals, which are usually held outdoors. Festival Beth-El is held at the temple, which can accommodate only about 150 artists.

"We can't grow anymore," says Soble. "And we won't move it because we think part of the appeal is having it in our spiritual home. I can't imagine it anywhere else."

The committee began in February 2005 traveling to other festivals, many out of state, to scout potential artists to invite. They try for a mix of perennial favorites and new participants.

Festival Beth-El has always had a reputation for careful, refined editing even as it has offered groundbreaking art. In recent years, it has chosen a safer middle ground of art that is more pretty than challenging.

"We look for edgier art," Soble says. "But the truth is, this is what's out there now. And our space limits us with many artists. We can't show huge works that take up a room or a wall."

So expect lovely, finely worked art. Studio glass, jewelry and representational painting are especially well represented. The festival also distinguishes between fine art and less expensive decorative art and craft at its Avenue of Shops on Monday only. And Syd Entel Galleries of Safety Harbor will set up an outpost featuring limited-edition prints.

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

PREVIEW: Festival Beth-El, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, at Temple Beth-El, 400 Pasadena Ave. S, St. Petersburg. Admission is free. Preview reception Saturday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. is $20 at the door. Also on view is art by Pinellas County high school students. (727) 347-6136.

[Last modified January 25, 2006, 10:09:06]