Ya know all those craft and fine art shows taking place just about every weekend? You can thank (or curse) Alan Howard for those. The Plantation resident arranges shows throughout Florida and pretty much the rest of the country as well. Alan's shows have become a welcome opportunity for buyers to find an impressive array of expensive to moderately priced works, and an equally effective way for artists to keep an eye on their peers. The shows have won numerous awards, and enticed millions to stroll and shop the art-lined streets of America's most charming cities.
As for the next charming city in Florida? The Downtown St. Pete Beach Art Festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 17 and 18. St. Pete Beach already offers plenty of pleasantries to locals and tourists alike. This seventh annual art fest just sweetens the deal, fitting in nicely among the town's unique variety of shops and restaurants. More than 100 artists — from as far away as New York and California — make this a first-class event for art lovers of all tastes. Media range from life-size sculpture to miniature woodworking, with photography, paintings, raku and everything else in between. Completing the scene, food vendors provide a variety of eats, and the relaxed sonic ambience comes courtesy of harpist Shirley Dominquez, sitarist Stephen Mikes, guitarist Pat Surface and vocalist Kayte Wolf.
If you like to plan ahead, upcoming HAE and ACE shows include Clearwater (March 31 and April 1); Madeira Beach (May 5 and 6); Tarpon Springs (May 12 and 13); St. Pete Beach (June 2 and 3); Palm Harbor (July 14 and 15); Old Hyde Park Village (Oct. 6 and 7); Clearwater (Oct. 13 and 14); Palm Harbor (Oct. 20 and 21); Dunedin (Nov. 10 and 11); Tarpon Springs (Nov. 24 and 25); and St. Pete Beach (Dec. 1 and 2).
—Kelli K
This article appears in Mar 14-20, 2001.