Tallahassee's Chain of Parks Art Festival marks its silver anniversary this year. Tom Flanigan reports the event, set for the last weekend in April, had a gala launch party the evening of Thursday, Jan. 16 at Lemoyne Arts.
Lemoyne's Gadsden Street headquarters was filled with event organizers and supporters. A major announcement each year is which local artist's work will appear on the cover of the festival program. Festival Chair Kelly Dozier said this year was no exception.
"The cover is Stephen Koury and it's a beautiful painting of kestrel hawks."
Koury is among more than 150 local, regional and national artists who will be displaying and selling their creative output in the course of the 2-day event.
"This year we're going to bring back the folk art component. We're calling it our 'Heritage Art Row' and that's going to be a permanent part of the festival because everyone loves it. Offering more fun things for children to do in the Children's Park. Our Chalk Art Oasis will be back. We've now created several fun zones within the festival."
Dozier also had a bit of news about her own long-time involvement in the event.
"This is my last year as the festival chair. It's been a wonderful journey and I've enjoyed every bit of it."
But before Dozier can step back from the position, she still has to oversee one final Chain of Parks Art Festival. It happens April 26th and 27th in Tallahassee's downtown parks.
