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Live Oak Artists Guild Gallery and Cultural Arts Center.
In 1997 a dedicated committee of artists, amateur and professional, designed Autumn Artfest.
At that time the Live Oak Woman's Club held an annual non-juried/no entry fee exhibit including visual fine arts, crafts, writing, and musical performances. The exhibit was judged and ribbons were given in every category including a Best of Show in Fine Art, Crafts and Photography. This event was held in March at the Coliseum with great community involvement including a community chorus....thanks to Patt Slaughter for coordinating this for 25+ years.
In designing Autumn Artfest, the LOAG committee agreed on several points.
The show would be an additional art event that would not compete with the March show.
We chose a date in September requiring that work previously shown could not be repeated.
There would be new work and a gallery format.
Danny Hales at the Library said we could use the Crapps meeting room but must install the elevated rail to hang work with nylon line. The Guild purchased additional lighting for the room. A fine art exhibit would attract local and regional artists. A serious art exhibit required significant monetary awards and 2 professional paid judges.
There were no categories for judging but limited the show to traditional fine art: drawing painting, printmaking, sculpture and photography. Artists were limited to 2 entries with a $25 entry fee. An elegant reception was planned with a formal award presentation and the Suwannee Trio.
The committee saw this exhibit as an opportunity to involve the elementary students in a teaching gallery talk. With the volunteer docents, students could respond to the work, ask questions, often meet the artist, learn basic art vocabulary and how to look at a work of art.
All of the above happened with an overwhelming success and rave reviews from the community. Banks, merchants, and individuals donated for over $2500 in awards with a dedicated Photography award. John Crapps offered a $1000 Best of Show. (Not many community exhibits can offer that much)
Artists came from as far away as Atlanta, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Orlando and Tampa not to mention our local amateurs and professionals.
The Live Oak artists held their own winning their fair share of awards. Judges were selected from university art faculty and professionals from outside the area.
We are into the 11th Autumn Artfest.
The Guild has undergone many changes over the years changing officers every 2 yrs. but it has maintained consistent standards and the original vision for Artfest.
We had fewer pieces entered this year, 80, with as many as 120 in past. . Fewer pieces allow space for the work and better viewing for the public. The gallery is small so we must limit to fine art or have a separate craft show. Suwannee County and the surrounding area offers many opportunities for "country crafts, homemade and boutique items" at Christmas on the Square and at Stephen Foster. The LOAG felt this could be our venue for fine art.
Over the years we have had non-traditional fine art pieces entered. A painting in postage stamps was awarded Best of Show in 2005. In defense of the wall hanging and stained glass pieces, both were presented in a fine art format, both are non-functional nor utilitarian objects which are associated with crafts. We have accepted fine sculptural pottery.
Art techniques vary with the media but the rules for creating "good" art are basically the same.
Community organizations are works in progress, ever evolving. We have been growing, uninterrupted, for 28 years. Did you know that within the LOAG there are 6 Florida certified art instructors, regional, national, & international award winning artists and instructors, retired teachers, theatre professionals, musicians, published writers, business professionals, and equally important, beginners and hobbyists who are eager to learn and contribute to promoting the arts in our community. | 
About our Guild
