Have you ever seen that TV commercial where the guy says, "Don't mind me, I'm just the 800-pound gorilla in the room"? Well, that might as well be a commercial for the ArtiGras Fine Arts Festival. This event, which is held in Jupiter, Florida, over President's Day Weekend, goes head to head with the Coconut Grove Arts Festival and the St. Stephen's Art & Craft Show and comes out looking just fine year after year. Like that 800-pound gorilla, ArtiGras demands notice.
Although ArtiGras never ranks as high in the 200 Best as the other two Southeast Florida shows - the 2005 show landed at #78 on the Fine Art & Design list - many artists have known the secret of ArtiGras for years and don't even bother applying to the other shows. "I'm a happy camper right here," an oil painter told me. "This is one of the most underrated shows in the country," photographer Steve Vaughn added. And after participating in ArtiGras this year, I must agree.
ArtiGras is not just an art show - it's an event. It features 300 artists, live musical entertainment, youth art competitions and, of course, food. Because the show awards 30 prizes totaling $22,500, you'll certainly see some of the best of the best here, with very little, if any, questionable work, though there is a "garden-art" area with 50 or so exhibitors showcasing, obviously, garden/craft-type work (stuff on a stick, wind chimes, etc.). The Festival also features an art-demonstration stage, where artists in various mediums showcase their skills.
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