It was another year of great turn-outs and happy artisan vendors
With the most outdoor booths on record, Geauga Park District’s 21st Annual Nature Arts Festival also met another milestone – more than double the number of entries for the People’s Choice Competition.
One hundred twenty-five artists submitted their work for honors voted on by those who visit the two-day festival, as opposed to 61 artists in 2011.
Overall, festival-goers numbered 1,162 people on Saturday, August 4 (despite heat) and 844 people on Sunday, August 5 (despite morning rain) to The West Woods in Russell Township.
This popular, free, indoor/outdoor festival returned for its 21st year with an entirely nature-focused juried art show; for-sale art by more than 50 regional and national woodcarvers, painters, potters, jewelry-makers and others; catered food; all-day entertainment; workshops and more.
The 2012 Outstanding Booth/Display Award winner, who will return to next year’s festival as Featured Artist, was Chandler Beatty, a painter from West Middlesex, Pennsylvania.
Park District volunteer Sandy Weibusch won the Geauga Park District Foundation’s artwork raffle, taking home “Eastern Amberwing on Water Lily” by 2011 Outstanding Booth/Display Award winner Dean Chriss.
And last but not least, the following 10 artists went home with 2012 People’s Choice Awards. To see photos of their winning artwork, visit .
Painting/Drawing
1st Place – “Bluebird” by Chandler Beatty; 2nd Place – “Woodland Beauty” by Peggy Hanna
Photography
1st Place – “Rainbow Point” by Tom Millward; 2nd Place – “Fire & Ice” by Wayne Mazorow
Mixed Media
1st Place – “Driftwood Heron” by Ray Thurston; 2nd Place – “Dropping In” by Roy Podojil
Children’s (Ages 8-12)
1st Place – “The Lily Pond Inspiration” by Anna Sanders, Age 11; 2nd Place – “The Seashell” by Anna Sanders
Children’s (Ages 13-17)
1st Place – “Black & White Wolf” by Rachel Rich, Age 14; 2nd Place – “Eye of the Tiger” by Kaitlyn McKanna, Age 13
This year’s Nature Arts Festival was sponsored by The News-Herald and Renewal by Andersen Windows. The West Woods, a 900-acre park with miles of hiking trails, is at 9465 Kinsman Road (Rt. 87).
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