Our Very Own Florida Arts Editor Josh Garrick Invited as Juror for 43rd Annual Osceola Art Festival (February 13 & 14)

and

Orlando Downtown Art & Living Expo (February 20 & 21)

It is a good thing that Josh Garrick sincerely LOVES ART and the ARTISTS who create ART!  Garrick, a Central Florida art curator and collector, will spend two weekends in February as a juror for two different art festivals. 

The first is the 43rd Annual Osceola Art Festival (February 13 & 14) to be held on the campus of Valencia College in Kissimmee, and the second is the 6th Annual Orlando Downtown Art & Living Expo (February 20 & 21) on the east side of Lake Eola Park in Downtown Orlando.

Both Festivals are free and open to the public, and both festivals offer cash prizes to the winning artists. 

Writer, photographer, and fine art consultant Josh Garrick is the arts writer for AOL’s on-line travel information journal (Tripvine.com), is the arts columnist for Orlando Home & Leisure Magazine, The Winter Park/Maitland Observer newspapers, the East Orlando Sun, the Seminole Voice, and Wandering Educators. 

With a Master of Fine Arts degree from Columbia University, Josh has served on State and National funding panels including the National Endowment for the Arts; he has testified before Congress on behalf of the arts; and as a professor of ancient Greek art and culture at the School of Visual Arts, Josh has led American students on 15 trips to Greece.  

Josh’s photography has been featured in a variety of magazines, from the Chronicle of Higher Education to the cover of Gallery Guide NYC, and in numerous Greek publications including Olympic Airways publications. Josh has exhibited his photography in New York City at the Helio Gallery and the Bibro Gallery and in several galleries throughout Central Florida.  An inveterate collector of – and spokesman for – contemporary art, Josh has resided in Orlando for13 years. Visit www.jjgarrick.com.

Valentine’s Weekend at the Osceola Art Festival
The Osceola Center for the Arts and Valencia Community College will present the 43rd Annual Osceola Art Festival on February 13 and 14, the 2nd year the event is held on Valencia’s Osceola Campus in Kissimmee.  Over 140 artists from as far away as England, will display works including painting, photography, jewelry, pottery and more, competing for over $15,000 in prizes.

The Festival will also feature a Student Art Tent, a sidewalk chalk contest and arts and crafts for youth of all ages. A new addition to the 2010 show is ‘Local’s Lane,’ dedicated to local galleries and artists from Central Florida. Live entertainment, food and community booths will round out this free, family-friendly weekend of art and culture.

The Festival will be open from 10 am until 5 pm on Saturday, February 13th and from 10 am until 4 pm on Sunday, February 14th.  Valencia’s Osceola Campus is located on Hwy. 192 one mile east of Orange Blossom Trail.  Parking and admission are free.  Call 407.846.6257 or visit www.ocfta.com

6th Annual Orlando Downtown Art & Living Expo
Beginning on the brick-paved North Eola Drive along the East side of Lake Eola Park in Downtown Orlando, the Downtown Art & Living Expo will take place on Saturday and Sunday, February 20 and 21. Viewing hours are from 11 am to 6 pm each day.  The Expo will feature over 120 artist booths with displays of glass, jewelry, crafts, mosaics, paintings, photography, pottery and sculpture.

Live music concerts, featuring local and national entertainers, are an integral part of the Festival, and a variety of food will be available, along with street performers, face painting, balloon magic and more.

The Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) will offer free, hands-on, art activities for the whole family. Cut, paste, color, draw and learn about OMA's collection of art works.

Families are invited to bring lawn chairs to enjoy the Entertainment Headliners -- Larry Hoppen of Orleans & Special Guest Jimi Jamison, formerly of Survivor, with the hits “Eye of the Tiger", "High on You", and "I Can't hold Back."

Visit www.downtownorlandoproperties.com

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators