Town celebrates 10th year of spotlighting local artists

Starting a decade ago, the town of Longboat Key began celebrating its local artists in a new way.

The town had a long tradition of uplifting area artists, one that goes back more than 20 years. But 2016 was the first year it invited a group of creatives to share their works at a town hall-hosted reception, where they could have one-on-one conversations with residents about the creative process.

At the anniversary celebration, Mayor Debra Williams commended the talent on display with this year's selection.

"This display is particularly colorful, and I'm really enjoying it," she said. "We're grateful to the artists for sharing this with us, and I'm happy you can all be here to enjoy it as well."

Over the years, 119 artists have been represented at Town Hall, the mayor said.

Organizer Susan Phillips has helmed the artists' reception from the beginning. She noted this event is unique because artists get to hang their creations in the gallery and sell them, with no venue commission. Admirers also get to attend for free, while noshing on complimentary hors d'oeuvres and beverages from community sponsors.

"I don't know if they believed me in the beginning when I said I could make it cost nothing," Phillips said of the reception when she first proposed it to town officials who were reluctant to spend tax dollars on the showcase. "But, I did it."

This year's celebration features Lynn Armstrong Coffin, Kimberly Graham, Barbara Jendrysik, Jen Kroeger, Marie Therese Lacroix, Pat Lundy, Cheryl Moody, Collin Rowland and Madeline Wikler.

Pieces will be displayed and available for purchase until early July.

Phillips is the board chair of the Longboat Key Foundation, which stepped in to support several events that were part of this year's broader Arts in April programming.

She said moving the ball forward on events and projects that could benefit the community is precisely what the foundation is built to do.

"It's a wonderful thing for the town to have more engagement with citizens, too," she said.

Returning artist Jendrysik participated in the debut reception, and she said she has appreciated joining it over the years and seeing how it brings Longboat's artistic community closer together. She learned the craft of painting from her friend, well-known artist Leona Sherwood, and Jendrysik said she appreciates getting to now share her own artistic insights through local events like this.