Artists showcase unique creations at St. Armands Art Festival

By Ian Swaby
| 3:15 p.m. September 14, 2025

Bradenton photographer Jimmy Chadsey hangs a painting on the wall.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Longboat Key photographer Mary Lou Johnson said she only participates in shows close to home, extending to Naples.

"It keeps my little world here, but (people are) coming from all over," she said.

Including puzzles featuring Johnson's photos, the third annual St. Armands Circle Art Festival with Craft Marketplace, held Sept. 13 to 14, had plenty of unique offerings to draw visitors from near and far.

Just one of the unusual items on display were the "unzipped rocks" by Timothy Gregory and his wife Lauren Gregory of Port St. Lucie. The rocks had been partially carved out, fitted with zippers around the openings, and filled with real objects.

"I look at the rock, and I try to imagine, if it were to open, what would it look like?" Timothy Gregory said. "And I just kind of flow with the stone. And it kind of tells me what it wants to do."

Another was the images of photographer Steven Madow of Orlando, who has clearance from NASA to take up-close photographs of rocket launches.

"I take the approach of trying to create the most surreal, most beautiful images of these launches, and rockets themselves are just powerful, exciting," he said.

"We've had a great crowd, great sales, people are out and about, and it's cooler this weekend," Johnson said. "I love seeing people who have bought my art before, but I love meeting all the new people as well."

Orlando artist Kenan Sari whorls on a painting.

Timothy and Lauren Gregory offer creations that "unzip" nature.

Timothy Gregory holds one of his "unzipped" rocks.

Chris Rolfes, Ashley Rolfes and their daughter Harper Rolfes, 1, enjoy the art.

Attendee Kathy Nesser brought her french bulldogs Bubbles and Gizmo, who wear different clothes each month.

Paula Just of All Ways Holidays sets out some decor.

Linda Cahill and Danae Hoskins and Richard Jameson look at the art of Merritt Island artist LaDora Sims.

Orlando photographer Steven Madow showcased his photographs of rocket launches, taken with special clearance from NASA. He is posing with a housing he uses to protect his sound-activated cameras, which he places a few hundred feet from the launches, where they will be engulfed in flames.

Carey Hofle admires the artwork of Orlando artist Susan Sobel.

Liz Dollar and her friend Brad Pate look at ceramic cups.

James Mann and Linda Rock of Port St. Lucie admire the artwork.

Avery Swertel, 8, meets Monica May's dog Daisy May.

Heather and George Houck admire the artwork.

Photographer Mary Lou Johnson of Longboat Key showcases her puzzles to Russ and Lynne Brown.

At the American Woodworker tent, Robin Roberts sells a table to Bob McCafferty.

Tents are set up around the center of the circle.

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.