GULF BREEZE CELEBRATES THE ARTS FESTIVAL
Located at City of Gulf Breeze Parks & Recreation Community Center, 80 0 Shoreline Drive
The city of Gulf Breeze and Gulf Breeze Arts, Inc. are proud to host the 28th Annual Gulf Breeze Celebrates the Arts Festival, held on March 23 and 24, 2024 in Gulf Breeze, Florida. This two day event is a staple event for the city of Gulf Breeze, which is a beautiful little city located between Pensacola and Pensacola Beach, just a short drive from the white sands of the Gulf of Mexico. We are excited to host 100+ local, regional and national fine artists, food vendors, a Local Artists Art Show, a Silent Auction as well as live artist demonstrations and children activities. We are lined up behind the Orange Beach Arts Festival and the Fairhope Arts Festival, making these three festivals a perfect line up for the month of March.
Gulf Breeze Arts, Inc. prides itself in donating the proceeds of the GBAF to local school art enhancement programs to help with supplies and projects as well as an endowed scholarship fund at Pensacola State College. We have also donated to the Band, Drama, Choral and JROTC programs. As of 2023, GBAI has donated over $145,000. We would be unable to do this without the participation of our artists and the community, so thank you for your participation and support.
OUTDOOR ART SHOW JUDGE
Brian Weaver
Internationally exhibited / collected artist and dedicated educator / scholar, originally from Oil City, Pennsylvania, Brian Weaver received a Master of Fine Arts (MFA): Ceramics degree from the University of Florida and a Bachelor in Fine Arts (BFA): Ceramics degree from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.
With more than a decade in higher education, Brian comfortably resides in Pensacola, Florida as the Visual Arts, Department Head at Pensacola State College in the Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts.
INDOOR LOCAL SHOW JUDGE
Ashley Patridge Rafferty
I am a Gulf Coast based painter. Although I have been creating my entire life, over the last several years I have been developing my style as an artist.
Self taught, I continued creating up until college where I originally studied Cellular & Molecular Biology. While studying for my masters in Biology, I chose to shift gears and return to art.
I began my studies as a Fine Arts major under the mentorship of Robert Marshman at the University of West Florida. After leaving university I continued to create art and exhibit in shows and competitions, locally and internationally.
Most recently, I am beginning my studies for my MFA in painting at the Savannah College of Art and Design.
During the progression of my career I have experimented with different mediums and processes in painting, but find myself consistently incorporating the detail required of science.
My work consists of randomly assembled objects to encourage the viewer to find their own meaning in each piece.
I believe in Ars Gratia Artis (Art for art’s sake). As an artist, I hope to influence the viewer to think and to find their own personal connection to my work.