Photo by Rachel Rubin
On Feb. 8-9, the Gulfport Merchants Chamber (GMC) held its 10th annual Fine Arts Festival at Clymer Park.
More than 50 artists participated in the festival. The event also had live music, a children’s area run by Kiwanis, and a butterfly release.
“The festival has become a haven for art connoisseurs,” the GMC’s website stated. “Bringing together a carefully curated selection of juried artists each winter to the largest annual arts event in Gulfport.”
Sadie Evert, who calls herself “Sadie the Fine Arts Lady,” is the festival’s coordinator.
Evert has background in event planning and has ran the Fine Arts Festival for the last five years.
“Each year, we try to make it a little better,” Evert said.
Best in Show at Gulfport’s Fine Arts Festival 2025
On Feb. 8, the Fine Arts Festival had two jurors judging the show. On Feb. 9, the jurors awarded artists. One award given in particular is the Best in Show.
“Best in Show is a standout award,” Evert said.
“It is usually work that surprises the viewer and takes something that has never been done or something that has been done before and taken to a new level.”
The GMC website stated that past winners of this award “represented a wide range of mediums, including sculpture, mixed-media art, painting, and fiber art.”
Evert told the jurors, “Best in Show, it’s always subjective, but here are the elements they should consider: Level of creativity and originality, quality of the artwork, artistic skill demonstrated, and Overall Impression.”
First place went to printmaker Carol Taylor, who won second place last year. At first glance, her work looks like she made it out of fabric. However, she creates art with paper.
Arts All Around!
The Gabber Newspaper covers live theater and art across South Pinellas. And, when we find something worth the drive, we cover art in the Tampa Bay and Sarasota areas.
Emerging Artists 2025
According to the GMC’s website, the GMC awards the Rise and Shine Emerging Artist Scholarship “to emerging artists who’ve shown the creativity and aptitude of taking their art to the next Level.”
Applicants must be 18 years or older, live in Gulfport, and “an emerging artist.” Evert said “an emerging artist [is] somebody who’s coming into their particular medium.”
According to Evert, recipients of the scholarship “get $500 to put towards their art, they get mentoring through the year, and then they have to write what they’ve accomplished and how they’re growing.”
This year, the scholarship went to David Feldman. Evert said there were two recipients, but the “other one had to step aside because of the storm.”
Gulfport Food Forest
This year, the Gulfport Fine Arts Festival decided to celebrate the Best in Show from last year. Crea Egan won Best in Show in 2024.
Egan is the founder of the Gulfport Food Forest, which is located in Clymer Park.
“When you win best of show, you get a free booth the following year,” Evert said.
As Egan won the Best in Show last year, Evert said Egan was supposed to get a free booth at the following festival to display her work.
“Milton, in her case, had ripped apart a part of her studio, and therefore, her work was in shambles,” said Evert. “She couldn’t pull it together to get her free booth.”
Egan will still get a free booth next year, but Evert still wanted to honor her for her contribution to the Gulfport community.
“We allowed her to put sculptures in the front garden,” Evert said.
Looking for more things to do in St. Petersburg, Gulfport, and the beaches? Check out The Gabber Newspaper’s full calendar of events.
Photo by Rachel Rubin
Butterfly Release at Gulfport’s Fine Arts Festival 2025
As Evert worked on this year’s festival, she said she wanted a butterfly garden Not just to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the festival, but to honor the food forest.
“Gulfport is open. We are shining. We are happy,” Evert said. “Butterflies bring joy and hope and new beginnings, and we’re here because our businesses won’t thrive unless they think Gulfport’s open.”
Evert contacted Tampa Bay Butterfly Foundation. After finding butterflies and having the the proper plans to feed them, the butterfly release became a possibility.
Photo by Rachel Rubin
On Feb. 9, the butterflies were released into the Gulfport Food Forest.
The butterfly release was a combined effort. It involved the Tampa Bay Butterfly Foundation, the Gulfport Food Forest, Kiwanis, and the GMC.
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