Lake Worth ArtFest names winner of poster contest
A Memorable Night, an acrylic painting by Lake Worth artist Tiffany Beasi, has won the inaugural commemorative-poster contest for the Lake Worth Beach ArtFest.
“My inspiration for the painting came from the newly renovated historical Lake Worth Casino and by the city’s effort to unify the arts community,” Beasi said. “This painting is a whimsical and dynamic interpretation of the historical landmark. In A Memorable Night, my vision is to make the sky sparkle, the trees sway and the building bright and inviting. The landmark at night entices the community to come out and play.”
Beasi graduated from the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s of fine arts degree in graphic design. She has exhibited her work at the House of Blues Folk Art Festival, Sun Fest and Gibson Guitar Town.
Her poster will be on sale at the festival, set for Nov. 23 and 24, and will cost $8.
The festival will feature more than 100 artists, converging at the historic Lake Worth beach complex for a two-day juried outdoor-gallery-style art exhibit and craft market with a beer and wine garden, live music, a children’s activity zone and an art giveaway. A variety of original artwork, handmade items and special gift will be on display with prices to suit all budgets.
Hours of the festival are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission is free. For more information, visit www.lakeworth.org.
Palm Beach resident to fund Uffizi restoration project
Veronica Atkins, widow of the Atkins Diet inventor, has made a $25,000 gift to the Friends of the Uffizi Gallery to restore the Apollo With Lyre sculpture that belongs to the collection of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy.
“I knew immediately that I wanted to take on this project,” Atkins, who lives in Palm Beach, said. “The Uffizi Gallery houses a collection of art that is not just aesthetically pleasing but an important part of the history of Western art.”
Atkins is chairwoman and co-founder, with her late husband, of the Robert C. and Veronica Atkins Foundation, which funds independent scientific research that examines the role of metabolism in diseases linked to obesity. She was born in Russia and has lived in eight European countries. She committed to the restoration project after learning about the mission of the Friends group from its chairwoman, Diann Scaravilli.
The organization was created in 2006 in Palm Beach as the sister organization to Italy’s Amici degli Uffizi. Both organizations are presided over by Contessa Maria Vittoria Colonna Rimbotti. Their joint mission is to raise awareness of the Uffizi Gallery through educational outreach and by providing resources for acquisition, preservation and restoration.
To date, members, many from Palm Beach, have funded nearly 30 culturally important restoration projects, including the Michelangelo Room, which opened earlier this year.
The Uffizi Gallery was designed by Giorgio Vasari and completed in 1581. The building originally was funded by Cosimo I de’ Medici to house the government’s administrative offices. The museum contains the world’s most significant collection of Renaissance art, with paintings and sculptures by old masters including Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Botticelli.
The marble Apollo With Lyre sculpture was constructed in 1565 by sculptor Giovanni Caccini around the partial remnant of a Greek sculpture that dates to 79 A.D. The work is based on the story in Greek mythology of a contest between Pan playing his flute and Apollo playing his lyre, in which Apollo was pronounced the victor.
The restoration of Apollo With Lyre is expected to be completed early next year.