St. Petersburg, FL–– The nation’s top contemporary craft artists came from 19 states to display and sell their creations at Florida CraftArt’s 20th Annual CraftArt Festival.

Judge Perry Price (left) and David Ramsey of Raymond James (right) presented the Best of Show Award to John Mascoll (Safety Harbor, Fla.) for wood. Photo by Katie Deis.

The two-day festival, presented by RE/MAX METRO, was held on November 18 and 19, at Central Avenue and 5th Street in downtown St. Petersburg, kicks off the Holiday shopping season. The juried fine craft art festival features nationally established and emerging fine craft artists with handmade works in clay, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, paper and mixed media. Visitors enjoy artist demonstrations, food trucks, craft beers and wine, and a kids’ art activity tent sponsored by The Don Cesar.

“Another group of talented artists graced the streets of St. Petersburg for our 20th Annual CraftArt Festival,” said Janie Lorenz, CraftArt Festival Manager. “The artists have been delighted with the enthusiastic and supportive crowds!”

Awards were presented to the 2017 CraftArt Festival artists. From left seated are Dominice Gilbert, Colby Charpentier, Taylor Robenalt; standing are Alan Johnson, Theresa St. Romain, Mayauel Ward, judge Perry Price, John Mascall, Leeann Kroetsch and William Kidd.
Colby Charpentier-Emerging Artist Award
From left: Judge Perry Price, Duncan McClellan, Colby Charpentier and Kathryn Howd, Florida CraftArt Board President.

The prestigious judge for the CraftArt Festival 2017 was Perry Price, the executive director of the Houston Museum of Contemporary Craft, who presented $11,000 in cash awards to the following winners in the craft categories.
Raymond James Best of Show Award was presented to John Mascoll (Safety Harbor, Fla.) for wood.
William Kidd (Lakeland, Fla.) won the Northwestern Mutual Directors’ Best of Show Award for Ceramics.
Duke Energy Award of Excellence was presented to fiber artist Leeann Kroetsch (Tampa, Fla.).
Ceramic sculptor Taylor Robenalt (Sarasota, Fla.) won the Regions Bank Award of Excellence.
Tampa Bay Times Award of Excellence was presented to Jewelry Artist Obayana Ajanaku (Decatur, Ga.)
Tyrone Mazda Award of Excellence was given to artist Alan Johnson (St. Petersburg, Fla.) for ceramics.
Jewelry artist Jonathan Stopper (Sarasota, Fla.) won the Creative Loafing Award of Merit.
Mixed Media artist Kowit Jitpraphai (Tallahassee, Fla.) received the Jennifer and Jeff Lovelady Award of Merit.

Judge Perry Price (left) and Claudette Fornuto (right) presented the Trenam Law Award of Merit to metal sculptor Dominice Gilbert (St. Petersburg, Fla.).

Trenam Law Award of Merit was presented to metal sculptor Dominice Gilbert (St. Petersburg, Fla.)

Theresa St. Romain, a jewelry artist (Tucker, Ga.) was awarded the Souzou Asian Kitchen Award of Merit.
St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport Award of Merit went to jewelry artist Maureen Shankey (Miami, Fla.).
The WUSF Award of Merit was given to glass artist Mayauel Ward (Manhattan Beach, Ca.)

Colby Charpentier-Emerging Artist Award
From left: Judge Perry Price, Duncan McClellan, Colby Charpentier and Kathryn Howd, Florida CraftArt Board President.

Duncan McClellan of the DMG School Project presented the Emerging Artist Award to ceramic artist Colby Charpentier (St. Petersburg, Fla.).
To learn more about CraftArt 2017, visit www.floridacraftart.org,  or contact Janie Lorenz at janie.lorenz@floridacraftart.org,

Florida CraftArt is Florida’s only statewide nonprofit organization representing established and emerging fine craft artists.  For more than sixty years, it has advanced and celebrated Florida’s fine crafts, in St. Petersburg and throughout the state, through exhibitions, workshops and educational programs, making it Florida’s most important destination and primary authority for fine craft art. Its mission is to grow the statewide creative economy by engaging the community and advancing Florida’s fine craft artists and their work. Visit Florida CraftArt at 501 Central Avenue in Downtown St. Petersburg or at www.floridacraftart.org

Photos by Katie Deits
BestofShowJohn Mascoll.jpg
Judge Perry Price (left) and David Ramsey of Raymond James (right) presented the Best of Show Award to John Mascoll (Safety Harbor, Fla.) for wood.
1a. BestofShow- John Mascoll
Best of Show winner John Mascoll, of Safety Harbor, Fla., with his wood-turned art.
William Kidd- Northwestern Mutual.jpg
William Kidd (Lakeland, Fla.) won the Northwestern Mutual Directors’ Best of Show Award for Ceramics.
Leeann Kroetsch-Duke Energy.jpg
Judge Perry Price (left) and Jeff Baker (right) presented the Duke Energy Award of Excellence to fiber artist Leeann Kroetsch (Tampa, Fla.).
TaylorRobenalt-Regions Bank.jpg
Judge Perry Price (left) and Stacia Schrader (right) presented the Regions Bank Award of Excellence toc sculptor Taylor Robenalt (Sarasota, Fla.).
4c. Tampa Bay Times Award of Excellence was presented to jewelry artist Obayana Ajanaku (Decatur, Ga.)

DominiceGilbert-TrenamLaw.jpg
Judge Perry Price (left) and Claudette Fornuto (right) presented the Trenam Law Award of Merit to metal sculptor Dominice Gilbert (St. Petersburg, Fla.).
Theresa St. Romain-Souzou.jpg
Judge Perry Price (left) and Jessi Rogers presented the Souzou Asian Kitchen Award of Merit to Theresa St. Romain, a jewelry artist (Tucker, Ga.).
6a. Theresa St. Romain Souzou award of excellence
Theresa St. Romain, a jewelry artist (Tucker, Ga.) received the Award of Merit from Souzou Asian Kitchen.
MayauelWard-WUSF,jpg
Judge Perry Price (left) and Sherry Hood gave the WUSF Award of Merit to glass artist Mayauel Ward (Manhattan Beach, Ca.)
7a. Mayauel Ward – WUSF Award of Merit
Glass artist Mayauel Ward (Manhattan Beach, Ca.) won the WUSF Award of Merit
AlanJohnsonTyroneMazda.jpg
Judge Perry Price (left) presented the Tyrone Mazda Award of Excellence to artist Alan Johnson (St. Petersburg, Fla.) for ceramics.
8a. Jonathan Stopper – Creative Loafing Award of Merit is presented by Kathryn Howd, Florida CraftArt Board President.
CraftArt Festival 2017 Awards.jpg
Awards were presented to the 2017 CraftArt Festival artists. From left seated are Dominice Gilbert, Colby Charpentier, Taylor Robenalt; standing are Alan Johnson, Theresa St. Romain, Mayauel Ward, judge Perry Price, John Mascall, Leeann Kroetsch and William Kidd.
Colby Charpentier-Emerging Artist Award
From left: Judge Perry Price, Duncan McClellan, Colby Charpentier and Kathryn Howd, Florida CraftArt Board President.