Arts

Congratulations to Walton County school students and teachers who recently participated in the Second Annual Music in Pictures art contest.  Around 1,300 students from 14 Walton County schools listened to and visually interpreted musical selections from Carnival of the Animals by French composer Camille Saint-Saens. Students were asked to interpret one or more of the selections in a piece of artwork. This adventure produced many creative interpretations of: The Royal March of the Lion, The Aviary, The Aquarium, The Kangaroo, The Elephant and The Swan.

There are so many talented and creative students in the Walton County area, and through the various schools and educational foundations, there are extensive opportunities to encourage those talents. One of those creative opportunities was recently offered through the Rosemary Beach Foundation.

The ArtsQuest Fine Arts & Music Festival is held each Mother's Day weekend in South Walton, Florida. The Cultural Arts Alliance (CAA) is thrilled to announce the 25th anniversary festival will take place, May 10 - 12 in the WaterColor Resort, along Scenic Highway 30A, which runs along the gorgeous Gulf of Mexico.

This year's Valentine Tour of Homes features six stunning South Walton homes on display Saturday, Feb. 16 from 10am to 4pm and Sunday, Feb. 17 from noon to 4pm. If you love art, design and architecture you'll be rewarded with the artistically-indulgent, self-guided tour.

Escape to Create and Seaside Repertory Theatre present FILM + MUSIC + VIDEO featuring artists Julia Othmer and Jena Serbu on January 25 at 7:30pm at Seaside Meeting Hall Theatre in Seaside, Florida.

Paving the way for digital art over the past six years, Alys Beach and its groundbreaking event, Digital Graffiti (DG), will bring another event series to the South Walton community and Scenic Highway 30A. Digital Graffiti provides a venue and reason for digital artists to showcase their one of a kind works.

For music lovers, January in SoWal is the best month of the year. It's when the 30A Songwriters Festival fills intimate venues and beautiful outdoor settings with writers who perform their own music, and performers who write their own songs. Join us January 18-20, 2013 for a weekend of soulful melodies, powerful vocals and compelling lyrics throughout South Walton during the festival, sponsored by SoWal.com.

Andy Saczynski, South Walton Artist of the Year, will be making a special contribution to the 30A Songwriters Festival this year. Not only will he be working on a unique backdrop painting for the festival, but you can watch him complete the project live.

Start making art now! Entries for the Cultural Arts Alliance A+ Art Committee’s annual juried show, “Top of the Class” must be submitted by February 5, 2013. The show, presented by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) in partnership with Northwest Florida State College, awards monetary prizes for the winning pieces of art. Artists may submit up to two entries of original art.

Rosemary Beach Foundation has put together a great lineup for the 8th Annual Girls Getaway Weekend in Rosemary Beach Jan. 31-Feb. 3, including musical performances by professional singer/songwriters, chefs' cooking demonstrations, brunches, workshops and soirees. Between planned events, women can cruise around town on beach bikes, hit the local shops and restaurants or even enjoy a bonfire on the beach.