NICEVILLE, Fla. — The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF) has named Niceville oil painter Kathy Schumacher the poster artist for the 30th Annual Festival of the Arts.
Recognized as one of Northwest Florida’s premier cultural events, the festival will open with the Arty Kick Off Party on Friday, Oct. 24, followed by the two-day celebration on Saturday, Oct. 25, and Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village in Destin.
Ms Schumacher, originally from Wisconsin, discovered her passion for painting later in life after years of traveling with her military husband and raising two children. Now based in Niceville, she works exclusively with palette knives, creating richly textured works inspired by the Gulf Coast’s wetlands and changing light.
Her winning piece, “Sails in Symphony,” is a 30-by-24-inch impasto oil painting featuring jewel-toned sailboats.
“It’s inspired by Destin—by the water, by the coastal lifestyle—and it just feels like Mattie Kelly,” Ms Schumacher said.
“I wanted it to be more colorful than my usual sailboat paintings so it would stand out on a poster. It reflects the beauty of our area and hopefully pairs perfectly with the Festival’s music and atmosphere.”
Ms Schumacher first exhibited at the Festival of the Arts in 2013, when she won the People’s Choice Award. Since then, she has continued to show her work at juried art festivals and in local galleries, including The Studio Gallery in Grayton Beach and The Shops at Baldwin Turf in Niceville.
She has exhibited at the festival for 12 years.
“I love Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation and the Festival of the Arts. This is truly such an honor,” Ms Schumacher said.
Festival visitors will be able to meet Ms Schumacher at tent No. 61 and view her original artwork during the event.
As the poster art winner, she will receive a $750 cash prize, and her work will appear on the official festival poster, t-shirt, program guide, MKAF marketing, and online platforms.
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More than 100 artists from across the country are expected to exhibit their original work in 18 award categories, competing for more than $12,000 in cash prizes, including Best in Show and People’s Choice. The festival will also showcase a Collaborative Art Exhibit with work by both adult and student artists.
In addition to fine art, the event will feature live music, a children’s art station, food trucks, a wine and beer garden, and an art raffle. Admission is free, and parking is available on site.
Proceeds benefit MKAF’s ArtsReach program, which provides arts education to K-12 students, adults and children with special needs, and military families.
For more information about MKAF membership, sponsorship, or donations, visit www.mkaf.org or call (850) 650-2226.
