Celebrating its third year, the Cultural Arts Alliance (CAA) "Top of the Class" exhibition will be on display at Northwest Florida State College-South Walton Campus, from April 5^th to May 30^th.  The art exhibition features 35 new, original works by local artists. To launch the exhibit and announce the cash awards, the CAA is hosting an opening reception on Friday April 5^th from 5pm - 7pm at the South Walton Campus of Northwest Florida State College. 

The Cultural Art Alliance of Walton County (CAA) and its A+ Art Committee created the "Top of the Class" Juried Art Exhibition to provide a forum for local artists to share their talents with the community and bring art to public places to complement public buildings and beautify public spaces.

The juror for the show is Linda Hall, an artist and educator living and working in Tallahassee, where she teaches environmental art at Florida State University.  A graduate of FSU with a MFA from the University of North Carolina, she says her main focus is the connection that we as humans have with the natural world. 

Awards will be announced at the opening reception and include the Trustmark Bank Best in Show Award ($500), The Livingston Financial Planning Award of Excellence ($250), McCullar and Company Award of Excellence ($250) and The Hidden Lantern Bookstore and Gallery Award of Excellence ($250). The Watercolor UPS Store is also a sponsor.  In addition, those attending the opening will be allowed to select a “People’s Choice” award. 
The "Top of the Class" exhibit runs from April 5^th to May 30^th and is open to the public Monday through Friday, 9 am to 4 pm.  The opening reception is from 5pm to 7pm on Friday April 5^th. 

The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) unveils the 25th Annual ArtsQuest Arts & Music Festival poster image, designed by South Walton artist Justin Lyons. Lyons was voted "Best in Mixed Media" at the 2012 ArtsQuest Festival and has created a poster image that complements the festival's fun-loving atmosphere and quest for art with a quest for heart.  The annual event will be held over Mother's Day Weekend, May 10-12, and features activities for the entire family.

"With the popularity of Justin's artwork at last year's festival, we knew he would be a great fit as our poster artist," said Jennifer Steele, executive director of the CAA. "His intuitive and expressive style was what drew us to his work."

Lyons is a self taught contemporary mixed media artist, who credits his introduction into the world of street art as ‘the spark’ that led him to pursue his own form of artistic expression. His mediums include wood, acrylic, house paint, photographs, spray paint, oil stick, epoxy resin and pencil. Through the use of multi-layered paint drippings, pencil scrawling and surface etchings, his work is hand-constructed and narrative, springing from personal introspection. It aims to give the viewers a reference point into a deeper understanding of a particular theme or subject matter, and to then explore on their own as to what they see and feel.