From aluminum to acrylic, St. Armands gets crafty

Most art venues discourage visitors from touching the art, and for good reason. But it's a different story at the annual St. Armands Circle Craft Festival, where many of the artisans encourage patrons to hold the wooden lazy Susans, latex flower bouquets and aluminum necklaces that they lovingly designed.

The third annual festival took place Saturday and Sunday at St. Armands Circle Park, drawing many early visitors seeking to beat the heat.

Carlos and Patricia Campuzano, married 54 years, are the designers behind The Frozen Moments floral sculptures. Carlos said their pieces are perfect for residents who travel often but still want a pop of color in their homes.

"When you touch it, it feels real," he said, pointing out the various water lilies, bird of paradise and magnolia blooms they've designed. "Almost everybody asks if they are real."

Depicting some of Florida's most iconic natural scenery on large-scale canvases, acrylic artist Rasa Saldaitis brought her work to this year's showcase. 

"I favor an impressionistic style of painting and using lots of color in my painting," said Saldatis, who has painted professionally for about 30 years. "I work with a lot of layers, making each a little different color."

Saldatis was among good company with her use of vibrant pigments. On the other end of the park, artist Cesia Acevedo Martinez caught the attention of many passersby, with her paintings featuring bright blue flamingoes.

Many of her works have a 3D element she achieves by thickly layering her acrylic paints.

"I use my hands and my elbows, depending on the composition," she said. "Sometimes I'll use a baby spoon to get just the right effect. I don't limit myself to just one tool."

The artist said she also likes bringing her sunflower-centric art pieces to festivals like this because they often inspire happy memories for viewers.

"Maybe their grandmother loved sunflowers, or their husband or wife surprised them with them," she said. "Everybody has something special with this type of flower."

The craft festival also provided a venue for artists to explore a broader variety of media. Robin Roberts displayed the lazy Susans, charcuterie boards and tabletops that he created from hand-carved wood and epoxy.

Roberts works with a number of wood varieties, but his go-to type is olive wood for its bold grain, ease with which to work, and intoxicating scent.

"Every piece is a little different," he said, explaining how he draws inspiration from the inherent shapes from nature. "I accentuate the wood with the epoxy, so the wood is really the star of the show."

He has shared his work for the past half dozen shows on St. Armands Circle, and he said he appreciates the location for how it brings people together and allows them to touch these tactile crafts.

This fall, a relatively new craft festival comes to St. Armands Circle. The showcase features Craft Marketplace and is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 13 and 14 at 1 St. Armands Circle. Visit artfestival.com/festivals for more.