Fun for the whole family, the Santa Fe Spring Arts Festival offers a wide selection of activities for all ages including a free jazz and blues concert on Saturday.

Find out more about this year’s event. Watch the video in a new window »

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2013 Artist Awards

Best of Show 2-D
John Margerum Graphics Oviedo, FL #518

Best of Show 3-D
Phil Parker 3-D Mixed Flagler Beach, FL #511

Awards of Excellence 2-D
Richard Auger Photography Summerfield, FL #318
Ummarid Eitharong Mixed Media Orlando, FL #537

Awards of Excellence 3-D
David Figueroa Sculpture Sanford, FL #523
Katherine Mathison Ceramics Ocoee, FL #255

Awards of Distinction 2-D
David Hunter Graphics Winter Park, FL #525
Eleanor Blair Painting Gainesville, FL #328

Awards of Distinction 3-D
Maria Cano Jewelry Lake Worth, FL #232
Jitka Leskova-Manousakis Fiber Tallahassee, FL #223

Awards of Merit 2-D
Carol Elder Napoli Painting New Smyrna Beach, FL #442
Jay Canturbury Photography Holmes Beach, FL #465
David Gordon Painting Greenfield Center, NY #249

Awards of Merit 3-D
Jean Yao Fiber Ft. Lauderdale #462
Bill and Jon Slade Glass Jacksonville, FL #530
Kristin Holeman Jewelry Ft. Lauderdale, FL #450

Art Cop Award
Jim Wilshire Watercolor Roswell, GA #410

Come for the Art, Stay for the Jazz

The Santa Fe College Spring Arts Festival transforms downtown Gainesville’s historic NE 1st Street and the Thomas Center lawn into an international destination April 6 and 7. Top artists from all over the United States and abroad present sculpture, printmaking, painting, 2-D and 3-D mixed media, jewelry, photography, drawing, watercolor, wood, fiber, and glass artworks.

Spring Arts is a juried show with more than $20,000 in awards and purchase awards. “We expect 110,000 visitors to browse the booths,” said Kathryn Lehman, event coordinator. “At 44 years old, this is the longest running arts festival in North Central Florida.”

This year’s concert, an evening of Latin fusion on the Thomas Center lawn 5:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6, is free to festival-goers. The headliner band is Tropix, a Gainesville group by way of Puerto Rico. Band leader Gilberto de Paz hosts a jazz show on local radio.

Tropix’s repertoire includes merengue, salsa, cumbia, bachata, bolero and cha-cha. They feature favorites by artists like El Gran Combo, Marc Anthony, Buena Vista Social Club, Olga Tañon, Prince Royce and more. Another Latin band, Ramos Pinta, will provide a mixture of traditional Latin music with some rock influence.

Jazz performances earlier on Saturday include the SF Jazz Big Band, Jazz Combo, Rhythm & Blues Band, and Faculty Jazz Octet entertaining on the festival’s Garden Stage. The SF Rhythm & Blues Band is planning a trip to play in the world famous Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland, as part of Santa Fe College’s ongoing international initiative.

The Gainesville Community Jazz Band also performs, as well as Jacare Brazil playing folk and popular music from Brazil.

There are lots of activities children can enjoy at Spring Arts, and then catch the Earth Day “Party for the Planet” at the SF Teaching Zoo. The zoo is open festival weekend 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Entry is $5, adults; $4, children and seniors; free, SF students and staff. It’s a fun-filled place for families in Northwest Gainesville.

Besides great American folk and contemporary entertainment, there are plenty of international performances at SF Spring Arts including Middle Eastern, flamenco, Turkish and Greek dancing; African and Afro-Caribbean drumming; and traditional Irish tunes as well as Jewish folk and gypsy music.

The festival runs 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6 and noon-5:30 p.m. Sunday, April 7 rain or shine. Admission is free. For more information email kathryn.lehman@sfcollege.edu, call 352.395.5355 (office).

The 44th Annual Santa Fe College Spring Arts Festival

The 44th Santa Fe College Spring Arts Festival will transform historic NE 1st Street and the lawn of the Thomas Center in downtown Gainesville into a cultural destination. Admission is free to the festival which runs 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6 and noon-5:30 p.m. Sunday, April 7 rain or shine.

In describing plans for Spring Arts 2013, festival coordinator Kathryn Lehman said “Lots of wonderful artists are coming to Gainesville to fill NE 1st Street with original art. And this year the festival is going international with a free evening of Latin jazz on the Thomas Center lawn 5-8:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6.”

An homage to the late local artist and SF professor Lennie Kesl will be featured on this year’s festival poster. It will be unveiled 7 p.m. Thursday, April 4, to kick off a free evening’s jazz tribute to Kesl in the SF Fine Arts Hall. Kesl taught at the college for many years and was much loved.

For the first time, there will be a reprint of earlier festival posters. The two previous posters bearing Kesl’s art will be available online at springartsfestival.com for a limited time.

Lehman said she expects more than 100,000 visitors to SF Spring Arts, the longest running arts festival in North Central Florida. Spring Arts was voted Florida’s best arts and crafts festival by readers of Florida Monthly magazine and has been recognized as one of the top 20 events by the Southeast Tourism Society.

The festival is family friendly with free children’s activities, continuous entertainment on two stages, and international food.

A Tribute to Lennie Kesl

The Gainesville community will gather to pay homage to late local legendary artist and jazz musician Lennie Kesl Thursday, April 4, in the Santa Fe College Fine Arts Hall at an event called “Hello World.” Kesl taught art at SF for many years and was much loved at the college.

“Hello World” was a favorite phrase of Kesl’s. “He liked to write it on things; it’s on one of the Spring Arts posters he did,” said Kathryn Lehman, SF coordinator of cultural programs.

The Fine Arts Hall doors open at 6 p.m. Guests can view the ongoing exhibit of Kesl’s work which spans almost six decades of his life as a working artist. At 6:30 p.m. the 2013 SF Spring Arts Festival poster, featuring Kesl’s art, will be unveiled in the lobby. Refreshments will be served. The entire event is free and the public is invited.

At 7 p.m. “Hello World” features a jazz concert by the Friends of Lennie. This is a core band of musicians who have played and/or sung with Kesl over the past 30 years, with many featured guest soloists. Performers include Frank Sullivan, Vic Donnell and Howard Wapner, piano; Omi Ajamu, Cathy DeWitt, Dawn Royston and Dan Stepp, vocals; Billy Bowker, Bill Hutchinson and Rob Rothschild, drums; David Ottenberg, Ron Thomas and Terry Plumeri, bass; Nick DeCarlis, cornet; Ben Grier, saxophone; Marty Liquori, guitar.

In addition to this year’s poster, reprints of the two previous Spring Arts posters designed by Kesl will also be available. The 2013 poster and the two reprints cost $20 each, or all three for $50. They will be available at “Hello World,” online, and at the SF Spring Arts Festival.

For more information email kathryn.lehman@sfcollege.edu, call 352.395.5355 (office) or 352.214.8178 (cell).

International Flavor at the Spring Arts Festival

The Santa Fe College Spring Arts Festival transforms downtown Gainesville’s historic NE 1st Street and the Thomas Center lawn into a crossroads of the world April 6 and 7. “The festival has always been international, and we’ve had artists from as far away as Egypt,” said Kathryn Lehman, festival coordinator.

This year’s concert, an evening of Latin fusion, is free to festival-goers on the Thomas Center lawn 5:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6.

Concert headliner is the Latin fusion band Tropix, whose members come from Puerto Rico via Gainesville. Their repertoire includes merengue, salsa, cumbia, bachata, bolero and cha-cha. They feature favorites by artists like El Gran Combo, Marc Anthony, Buena Vista Social Club, Olga Tañon, Prince Royce and more.

Tropix band leader Gilberto de Paz is host of the weekly radio show Viernes Social, heard Friday evenings 8-10 p.m. on WUFT.FM 89.1. It showcases Latin jazz and discussions of the artists. “Janny Rodriguez, my co-host on Viernes Social, and I will be offering information and commentary in between musical acts the day of the festival,” said de Paz.

Another Latin band, Ramos Pinta, will also play at the concert. Their repertoire is a mixture of traditional Latin with some rock influence, according to de Paz.

Jazz performances earlier on Saturday include the SF Jazz Big Band, Jazz Combo, Rhythm & Blues Band, and Faculty Jazz Octet entertaining on the festival’s Garden Stage. The SF Rhythm & Blues Band is planning a trip to play in the world famous Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland, as part of Santa Fe College’s international initiative.

The Gainesville Community Jazz Band also performs, followed by Jacare Brazil playing folk and popular music from Brazil.

Besides American folk and contemporary entertainment of all sorts, there are plenty of international performances at SF Spring Arts including Middle Eastern, Flamenco, Turkish and Greek dancing; African and Afro-Caribbean drumming; traditional Irish tunes as well as Jewish folk and gypsy music.

Posters Available Online

Order your official Spring Arts Festival posters here

2013 Lennie Kesl Poster – Join us on Thursday, April 4th at 6:30pm in the Fine Arts Hall for the 2013 poster unveiling! This event is free and open to the public. Though we won’t reveal the poster image until April 4th, you can order your poster today…hurry, once we’re sold out, they’re gone for good!

1987 Lennie Kesl Poster & 1984 Lennie Kesl Poster – Don’t miss the chance to own a piece of Spring Arts history as we honor each of Lennie’s previous poster images!

Buy all three Kesl posters and save!

You can still purchase a 2012 Spring Arts Festival poster featuring work from the gorgeous portfolio of Kana Handel.

Important Notice

Please be advised that filming/taping will take place during the 2013 Spring Arts Festival. People entering the festival may appear in the picture. By entering the festival, you grant Santa Fe College or Santa Fe College Foundation the right to film or photograph you and record your voice and to use your voice or likeness without compensation, in connection with the picture and the distribution and exploitation thereof, and you release Santa Fe College or Santa Fe College Foundation and its licensees from all liability in connection therein. You agree and understand that Santa Fe College and Santa Fe College Foundation will proceed in reliance upon such grant and release. Santa Fe College and Santa Fe College Foundation does not assume responsibility for any injury to your person or damage or loss to your property. The use of camera or recording equipment is prohibited due to copyright regulations.

Can I bring my pet to the festival?

For public safety, due to the size of the crowd and the nature of the event, pets (with the exception of seeing eye and service animals) are not allowed in the festival site during hours of operation.