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The 8th annual Boca Raton Fine Art Show was held January 28 & 29, 2017 in downtown Boca Raton, on Federal Highway at Palmetto Park Road, and in Sanborn Square Park. Weather on Saturday was gorgeous and huge crowds were there. Although Sunday’s weather was cold and rainy, serious art buyers came out. This fine art and fine craft show is juried by art professionals with a combined experience of 120+ years in art education and/or art shows – and is voted one of the top art fairs in the nation. All artwork was original and personally handmade by the artists who participated in the show. 150 artists with all forms of discipline were showcased and for sale including: paintings, sculpture, clay, glass, wood, fiber, jewelry, photography, and more. There was something for everyone, in all price ranges. The Boca Raton Fine Art Show is sponsored by Hot Works, a professionally produced fine art fair with a national standing and reputation. Institute for the Arts & Education is the associated 501(c)3 non-profit organization which focuses on visual arts, diversity, community enrichment and fostering art education among youth. As part of our commitment to bring art education into the community, the Budding Artist Competition for students in grades 6-12 or ages 9-19 was integrated into the art fair with a 10’x20’ tent. This year included 49 entries from 11 schools. Sponsored by Institute for the Arts & Education, there were nine prizes with $390 in budding artist awards. This program exposed students to the entrepreneurship of doing something they love for a living, which is creating their art. It also brought families to the art fair who may not have otherwise attended. In order to recognize exceptionally talented artists in the show, there were seventeen Professional Artist Awards. The selected “Artist Judge” was Robin Markowitz, Executive Director for the Bethesda Row Arts Festival in Maryland. On Saturday, she judged the artists, with criteria centered on technique/execution, originality, and booth appearance. Following the selection of awards, a “Prize Patrol” team distributed the awards. Included were: • Mayor Susan Haynie, City of Boca Raton • Robert S. Weinroth, Council Member • Scott Singer, Council Member & Chair, Community Redevelopment Agency • Robin Markowitz, Artist Judge • Patty Narozny, Executive Producer, Boca Raton Fine Art Show Each of the 17 winning artists – who travelled to Boca Raton from eleven different states - were met and greeted by the “Prize Patrol” team and provided with a beautiful large 2’ ribbon that they displayed in his/her booth the rest of the art fair. It was a very positive experience for the artists to meet City dignitaries who took the time to attend the art show and be there to distribute prizes; it is a way we bond the City with the art show. 2017 Boca Raton Fine Art Show Professional Artist winners were: Two $500 Best of Show Awards: Robert Alan Hyde, Sculpture, Washington, MA Reza Pishgahi, Sculpture, Bloomington, IN Five $100 Awards of Excellence: James Leon La Casse, Sculpture, Denver, CO Jeannie Maddox, Painting, Dothan, AL Gail Markiewicz, Clay, Woodbridge, CT Sip-Tshun Ng, Mixed Media, Pompano Beach, FL Robinson Scott, Glass, Anoka, MN Ten Awards of Distinction: Marjorie Bowers, Drawing, Lilburn, GA Lilian Delgado, Painting, Riverview, FL David Edmund, Painting, Tampa, FL Marilyn Endres, Wood, Driftwood, TX Miguel Fonseca, Clay, Tampa, FL Katherine Kaya, Jewelry, Sarasota, FL Kue King, Sculpture, Blowing Rock, NC Peter Rujuwa, Sculpture, Greenwood, IN Roy Rodriguez, Mixed Media, Doral, FL Bonnie Shanas, Sculpture, Cherry Hill, NJ