ArtsQuest, the 36th Annual Fine Arts Festival produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA), has announced the 2024 festival’s featured artist, Bradley Copeland. Her custom artwork titled “Matapalo” will be the featured image on all ArtsQuest marketing materials as well as at ArtsQuest, a beloved May tradition taking place May 4th & 5th in Grand Boulevard Town Center‘s North Park.
Bradley Copeland is a prolific 26 year-old artist living in Santa Rosa Beach. Her passion for art has existed for as long as she can remember. After moving to Florida’s panhandle in 2020, her passion transformed into her career. She has since participated in numerous solo and group shows as well as other festivals and events. Her story and artwork have been featured in many various publications, including the cover story of Emerald Coast Magazine. And last year, she was awarded South Walton’s Artist of the Year Award by Visit South Walton.
Bradley considers art to be her religion, her compass and her greatest love. Her passion for creativity evolved into a need to share its healing abilities with others, and with the help of the CAA, a brand new prison art program was born. Above everything previously described, her most rewarding accomplishment is teaching this type of creativity every week to the residents of Walton Correctional Institution. When asked where she draws her inspiration from Copeland shares, “Really from everything in and around me. I am constantly trying to better understand myself and the universe and my place in it and making art helps me make sense of all of these things.”
ArtsQuest will feature over 100 other artists exhibiting and selling their work in Grand Boulevard’s North Park. Mediums include Ceramics, Sculpture, Glass, Oils, Acrylics, Mixed Media, Photography, Sculpture, Metal and Wood, Jewelry, Works on Paper, and more. These exhibiting artists from around the United States will compete for awards and cash prizes totaling $10,000 that will be decided by distinguished guest judges including Olga Guy, Watercolor Artist; Allison Galloway-Gonzalez, of Galloway-Gonzalez Consulting; and Katie Kehoe Assistant Professor, Sculpture and Expanded Media, Department of Art (FSU).
The Festival will also feature a variety of activities and attractions for art enthusiasts of all ages. Attendees can look forward to art demonstrations, a CAA member gallery featuring many artists from The Foster Gallery, a Walton County student exhibit, a special exhibit from the CAA’s Prison Art program, an interactive public art installation, Silent Auction, continuous live music and entertainment, and “ImagiNation: where kids rule.” Continuing this year is the popular Art on Demand Live series featuring educational sessions throughout the weekend. Interested participants may register for these sessions on the Cultural Arts Alliance website in advance of the event. A full cash bar will be available throughout the weekend in Grand Park.
ArtsQuest is part of Art Month Walton County, a collaboration of visual, performing and literary arts events presented in diverse formats and venues throughout Walton County in May. Art Month Walton also includes “Dine + Dive” – a fundraiser for the Underwater Museum of Art, Digital Graffiti at Alys Beach, the Longleaf Writers Conference, an Open Mic Night with Emerald Coast Storytellers, Sinfonia Goes Pop at Alys Beach, Mary Poppins – a production from Emerald Coast Theatre Company, Gallery events, concerts, and more.
Volunteers are needed throughout ArtsQuest weekend to work on all aspects of the festival. Those willing to help can sign up at CulturalArtsAlliance.com/volunteer. ArtsQuest is a rain or shine event. The festival is open to the public, and a $5 admission donation is requested.
Visit CulturalArtsAlliance.com for more information about ArtsQuest as well as other Art Month events, which are supported in part by Visit South Walton.
