CAA Announces Dallas Primavera as 2023 ArtsQuest Featured Artist
ArtsQuest, the 35th annual fine arts festival produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA), is pleased to announce the 2023 Festival’s Featured Artist, Dallas Primavera. His custom artworks titled “Awaiting Luka'', "Hamlet" and “Morning Glory Humming” will be the featured images on all ArtsQuest marketing materials. Primavera’s work will be featured at ArtsQuest, a Mother’s Day weekend tradition taking place May 13th & 14th in Grand Boulevard’s Town Center and North Park.
Primavera was the 2022 ArtsQuest "Judges Choice" winner. His paintings are inspired by what happens in his daily life. “ I enjoy bright and dark colors, life and death, insects and flowers,” he said. “I also enjoy telling a good story which I’ve mastered in the form of my color code. On every painting there’s a key of 26 dots in 26 different colors that represent A thru Z. When you look for the dots in my paintings, you can decipher what I am saying to you. The pandemic pushed me towards full time painting. I am currently traveling around the entire state of Florida trying to make a name for myself. To be the Featured Artist at ArtQuest is an absolute honor. It makes me feel I am headed in the right direction.”
“The CAA is proud to feature Dallas and his work, which represents the beauty and darkness of life with vibrancy and mystery,” said CAA Executive Director Jennifer Steele. “Our team was drawn to so many of his works that instead of choosing just one piece to feature during Art Month and the 35th anniversary of ArtsQuest, we selected three, each with a different story and subject but representative of the diverse, quality, interesting, beautiful work that can be found at ArtsQuest.”
ArtsQuest will feature over 120 other artists exhibiting and selling their work in Grand Boulevard’s North Park. Mediums include Ceramics, Sculpture, Glass, Oils, Acrylics, Mixed Media, Photography, Sculpture, Metal and Wood, Jewelry, Works on Paper, and more. These exhibiting artists from around the United States will compete for awards and cash prizes totaling $10,000 that will be decided by distinguished guest judges including April Fitzpatrick, Mixed-Media Visual Artist; Jayson Kretzer, Professional Cartoonist, Designer, and Executive Director of the Bay Arts Alliance; and Ryan Sanchez, Artist and Professor at Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD).
The Festival will offer art demonstrations, a CAA member gallery featuring many artists from The Foster Gallery and other regional artists, a Walton County student exhibit, a special exhibit from the CAA’s Prison Art program, continuous live music and entertainment, and “ImagiNation: where kids rule.” Continuing this year is the popular Art on Demand Live series featuring educational sessions throughout the weekend with local artists including Justin Gaffrey and Justin Gaffrey, Jr. Interested participants may register for these sessions on the Cultural Arts Alliance website in advance of the event. A full cash bar will be available throughout the weekend in Grand Park.
ArtsQuest is part of Art Month Walton County, a collaboration of visual, performing and literary arts events presented in diverse formats and venues throughout Walton County in May. Art Month Walton also includes “Under the Sea” - a fundraiser for the Underwater Museum of Art, Digital Graffiti at Alys Beach, the Longleaf Writers Conference, an Open Mic Night with Emerald Coast Storytellers, Sinfonia Goes Pop, The Sound of Music - a production from Emerald Coast Theatre Company, Gallery events and more.
Presented by Grand Boulevard Town Center, with additional support from Visit South Walton, Florida Arts & Culture, The Alys Foundation, Latitude Margaritaville, First National Bank, Merrill Lynch, Morning Star Foundation, Seaside Yacht Club and Emerald Coast Magazine, volunteers are needed throughout ArtsQuest weekend to work on all aspects of the festival. Those willing to help can sign up at CulturalArtsAlliance.com/volunteer. Sponsorships are still available, and interested businesses can contact Gabby@culturalartsalliance.com for more information.
ArtsQuest is a rain or shine event. The festival is open to the public, and a $5 admission donation is requested. Visit CulturalArtsAlliance.com for more information about ArtsQuest as well as other Art Month events, which are supported in part by Visit South Walton.
