ArtFest picks artists for annual event Feb. 7-8

Teresa Hansen, Sculpture This season, 850 artists applied to be a part of Art- Fest Fort Myers, Lee County's premier fine art festival. In October, a panel of five art professionals met at the local campus of Hodges University to review all the applicants' images and choose the top 200 artists who will be exhibiting at ArtFest Fort Myers in February.

Artists who will be participating in Art- Fest Fort Myers 2009 are from 36 states. And the artwork promises to be as new and exciting as the points of origin. This season, 64 percent of the participating artists have never had the opportunity to show their work in Fort Myers.

"We are thrilled about all the wonderful new artists who will be exhibiting at our event," said Sharon McAllister, ArtFest Fort Myers director. "This is a fabulous opportunity for everyone in the community to come downtown and get inspired in our relaxed open air art gallery!"

Sculpture, painting, ceramics, photography, printmaking, drawing, mixed media, ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, wearable fiber and wood are certain to delight all attendees. From decorating your home or office, purchasing a unique gift for yourself or someone you love, or turning a utilitarian item into your home into a thing a beauty, this once a year event is certain to exceed expectations. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to talk to individual artists and find out how their work is created and what inspires them. This is the weekend designed to bring the excitement of art into your life.

James Richmond, Photography ArtFest Fort Myers is the annual juried fine art festival that takes place on Edwards Drive in downtown Fort Myers on Feb. 7 and 8. This event brings 200 professional artists to downtown Fort Myers from across the county, hosts the largest high school art competition and exhibit in Lee County, and provides free interactive art experiences for children of all ages. To find out how you can enjoy ArtFest Fort Myers with all the celebrity VIP perks, contact info@ArtFestFortMyers.com or www.ArtFestFortMyers.com