A thank you to people who do good...

THIS IS AN EXCERPT BY COVER ARTIST, LINDA BLONDHEIM, TAKEN FROM HER BLOG. I echo her sentiments and give a heartfelt thank you to all the patrons, supporters, donors, etc. that make it possible for us to host these kinds of events. Sincerely, Leslie Long, Event Director.

Photo: Linda and Henry, AKA: Studio Dog in January 2010

"I want to thank all of the good folk who work so tirelessly in their communities to make art events happen. The Evinston and Winter Park paint outs are around the corner and I know of the behind the scenes work that is going on to make them possible. Yes, the people directly involved are committed to this effort and they will benefit from it with the causes they represent. There are others though who get absolutely nothing for their troubles except a sense of community and satisfaction. These are the unsung heroes. The farmers and ranchers who will open their farms to strangers, offering transportation, refreshments and their beautiful lands. The businesses who step up to offer in kind equipment and donations of catering, supplies and promotional materials. The amazing people who open their own homes and vacation homes to strangers, and the friends who volunteer countless hours to make these events possible. Then there are the patrons who purchase yet another painting this year to help their favorite artist and support the worthy cause. They are the biggest heroes because without their support, all of the work is for naught.

We as artists are entirely dependent on the support of patrons. Art is not a widget or a household item. It is to us a vital part of our life and our souls, but to non artists often of questionable value. We are provided a living by those good souls who feel love for the magic of painting. Not for a moment do I ever take that gift for granted. My patrons are precious to me in every way. They are the superstars of my world. They make my bohemian lifestyle possible and I am utterly awed by them.

What could we all achieve together if we did one kind thing today?"

Community Spotlight on TV20 Gainesville

Go take a look at the short spot that was done by TV20 Host Bob Williams for the Community Spotlight. He does a short interview with Busy Kislig Shires-Byerly, the Executive Director for the Conservation Trust for Florida, discussing the Evinston Paintout and the Patron's Gala. Great job Busy! Click HERE to watch the video.

EVINSTON PAINTOUT POSTER

Here is the Evinston Paintout Poster. Please feel free to print a copy and place on your bulletin board at work or copy and send it to your entire address book to help us promote this wonderful event! If you click on the poster, it will open it in another window, allowing you to use the "magnifying glass" to see the small print. Or, you can click on the name of the blog post "EVINSTON PAINTOUT POSTER" and it will take you to download it.

PAINT OUT LOCATION & SCHEDULE

Come join us for the 2011 Evinston Paintout hosted by the Wood & Swink Preservation Society, a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization dedicated to preserving this national landmark.

The Paintout wetroom/gallery will be at the Wood & Swink Old Store and Post Office, 18320 County Road 225 in Evinston, FL.

Directions from I-75 North or South: take exit 368 to Irvine/Orange Lake, turn right on CR 318. Your first big intersection is a traffic light at SR 441, turn left toward McIntosh. Pass thru McIntosh and then after 3 or 4 miles, you will start to see signs for the Paintout. You need to turn right on SE 185th Avenue. It ends at CR 225 – turn left and you will see the Wood & Swink about a block up on the left.

Directions from Gainesville: SR 441 South and continue as instructed above and follow signs.

Check in at the Wood & Swink during the week of April 11-17, 2011 to find out where the artists are painting. The gallery will be open Monday (4/11) thru Friday(4/15) from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm and on Sat.(4/16) from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm for the first annual HeritageFest.

Each day we will have hayrides from the Wood & Swink to where the artists are painting; and on Sat. there will be local vendors selling their hand-made wares. The Mt. Elliah Baptist church will be making home-cooked country lunches from 11:30 to 3:00 pm ($6 - $10) in case you get hungry.

Patron's Gala at Wood & Swink's Packing House Friday, April 15, 2011 6:30 pm

The Patron’s Gala for the 2011 Evinston Paintout will be held at the Old Packing House next to the Wood & Swink Post Office on Fri., April 15th. The party starts at 6:30 pm and there will be great art, food, beer and wine, entertainment and conversation. This will be an old-fashioned BBQ and will be catered by Pearl Country Store, some of the best BBQ in the area.

The goal of the Patrons' Gala is to sell as many paintings as we can to raise money in support of our cause. All of the artists who have worked so hard during the week of the paintout will be there to meet you and tell you about their art. There will be many scenes you will recognize in their paintings and we hope that at least one of them will inspire you to buy it and take it home. The artists are working hard to paint as much of “old Florida” as they can before it disappears in the name of progress.

Tickets are $20 each in advance or $30 at the door. BONUS: If you buy a piece of art, your ticket price is FULLY REFUNDABLE, making it FREE. You can purchase tickets HERE. Please come out in support of this worthwhile event.