Aaron Hale - Special to the Eagle

William Ward Moseley occupies himself by painting his view of the Esplanade architecture.

Aaron Hale - Special to the Eagle

Camielle Aylwin, a 15-year-old Marco resident, paints a picture of a flower, while some of her other works were on display at the Left Bank Art Fest. Aylwin said the Left Bank Art Fest was her first to show work in.

Aaron Hale - Special to the Eagle

Sandi Johnson and other members of the Marco Island Foundation for the Arts celebrate the foundation’s fifth anniversary and first Left Bank Art Fest with cake on Saturday.

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

More Latest Stories

• Florida fresh: Sweet on strawberries
• Chef Q&A: Terri Rementaria of Camellia Street Barbecue and Seafood Grill
• Review: ‘Speed Racer’ a nostalgic jaunt for adults, inspiring for kids

Share and Enjoy [?]

Saturday turned out to be a beautiful day for the Marco Island Foundation for the Arts to hold its first ever Left Bank Art Fest. That’s fortunate because for a while, the organizers and artists were worried about rain.

The Left Bank Art Fest, held at the Esplanade Shoppes in Marco Island, featured both local professional and amateur artwork.

For the professionals it was a chance to sell some of their work without the hassle of the average festival.

Organizer Nancy Rhodes said the $50 entry was substantially less than other art festivals in the area.

Many other regional art shows have an entry fee that costs artist as much as $250, and the artists must give 30 to 40 percent of their sales back to the show, said Rhodes. At the Left Bank Art Fest, the artists could keep all from what they sold.

But for some of the amateur artists on Saturday, the festival was not about selling enough to make a living, but to get exposed to the atmosphere of art shows.

For 15-year-old Camielle Aylwin, Saturday’s festival was a chance for her to consider her possibilities as an artist.

The tenth grade Marco resident stood at on a walkway overlooking the Smokehouse Bay painting a gold-colored flower. As she worked, Aylwin was approached by several admirers, including members of the Marco Island Art League. Aylwin said she was offered scholarship opportunities from the art league.

For all involved, the festival appeared to be a relaxing but colorful day, which was reminiscent of many of the works of art on display.

Sandi Johnson, the president of the Marco Island Foundation for the Arts, said she considered the Left Bank Art Fest’s first run a success.

“The quality of the artwork is fabulous,” said Johnson. “Our idea to have professionals and Sunday painters side-by-side has worked out.”