The Beach is Calling

More Treasures at the Orange Beach Festival of Art, March 10 – 11

With hundreds of artists representing visual, literary, performance and culinary arts, visitors are sure to find more great treasures than they can carry. The real treasures, though, are the artists themselves. This festival is a great opportunity to find something unique that speaks to you and to be able to discuss it with the artist directly. Having that connection to a piece, makes it that much more special when you display it in your home.

Last week we addressed some of the remarkable artists visiting the area to share their craft. This week we want to highlight just a few more so you can see just how diverse and intriguing the roster of artists truly is.

Pottery - Larry Allen

Mr. Allen comes to the festival from Kentucky where he has been making magic with pottery since the 70s. His style brings together modern architectural symmetry with bold color and classic lines.  He says he has been inspired by a variety of events and cultures in his time. Mr. Allen’s specialty is a technique called Sgraffito. In Sgraffito (or sometimes spelled Scraffito) the Pottery Artist applies two layers of a contrasting colored slip (clay in a liquid form) to an unfired ceramic form. The artist then scratches or incises his design on the slip, which in turn exposes the lower layer slip color.

See his works on his Orange Beach Festival of Art Facebook page.

 

Music – Lisa Zanghi

Ms. Zanghi, a talented singer-songwriter, left this area in the early 90s to pursue a career in Nashville. Her influences include Bonnie Raitt, Carole King and Joni Mitchell. After honing her songwriting craft, she returned to the Gulf Coast area in 2005. Her performance at the festival promises to be emotionally powerful and a toe-tapping good time.

Learn more about her on her Orange Beach Festival of Art Facebook page.

Interactive Art – The Tannehill Forge School of Blacksmithing

The Tannehill Forge School of Blacksmithing will share its artisanship with festival-goers by allowing them to participate in creating rustic beauty during the festival. Children and adults get to join in the fun as molten metal is turned into sculptural design. This is a great opportunity for children especially to connect to the kinds of skills so essential to our forefathers.

Find out more about it on the Orange Beach Festival of Art Facebook page.

 

Orange Beach Festival of Art Comes to Town March 10 and 11

In colder climates Spring announces itself when the first delicate purple crocuses poke through the snow. In the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach area we like to welcome Spring with an amazing display of visual, culinary, literary,  and performance art. The Orange Beach Festival of Art grows in popularity each year with more than 25,000 guests expected to attend in 2012.

The festival takes place at The Orange Beach Art Center’s campus and the adjoining Waterfront Park. Festival admission is only $1 for ages 12 and up. The Visual Arts includes 90 Artists from across the nation with live demonstrations of glass blowing, molten iron casting and raku pottery firing. The Culinary Arts brings the unique flavors of the Gulf Coast as local restaurateurs prepare specialties for festival guest. The Performing Arts includes two stages of non-stop music and entertainment with individual performers scattered about the Festival site. Even kids enjoy the festival with the wonderful Kids’ Art Alley offering amazing children’s art activities.

Rick Bragg

Native Alabaman Rick Bragg leads the slate of authors scheduled to speak during the festival. The Pulitzer-prize winning journalist is best known for his works of non-fiction that chronicle his life in Alabama. Mr. Bragg is the domestic correspondent to the New York Times Atlanta office and provides a monthly column for Southern Living Magazine.

Anansema Cultural Group – Ghana

We are particularly pleased this year to welcome the Anansema Cultural Group from Accra, Ghana who is visiting as part of a cultural grant provided by their country. They will perform original tribal dance as well as teach drum making and carving. They will remain here for a week to provide cultural exchange to groups and students in the area. We are fortunate to have them visit from such a great distance and are honored to be included in their tour which includes London and Adelaide, Australia.

Carlyn Ray

Another must-see at this year’s festival is our guest glass artist, Carlyn Ray. She and resident glass artist, Sam Cornman will be continuously creating glass art at The Hot Shop throughout the festival. If you are visiting and would like to leave with a unique souvenir or gift for a friend, the glass-making facility at the Orange Beach Art Center is sure to please.

Parking

The festival is located at 26389 Canal Road in Orange Beach, but shuttles are available for $1 at the Orange Beach Publix, Orange Beach City Hall, The Wharf and the State Park Pavilion.

For more information about the festival and for a complete list of artists, visit the Orange Beach Festival of Art website or call (251) 981-2787.

 

Venues for the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival

This week the much anticipated Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival comes to the Alabama and Florida shores. For your convenience, we have the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach area venues listed below geographically. With so many venues participating, you should be able to find a place nearby where you can hear great music and storytelling through song. For a full schedule of events, click here.

 Gulf Shores

Happy Harbor Oyster Bay
4159 County Rd 6
Gulf Shores, AL
251-968-2778

 

LuLu’s At Home Port Marina
200 E. 25 Ave.
Gulf Shores, Al  36542
251-967-5858

 

 

 

Nolan’s Restaurant
1140 Gulf Shores Parkway
Gulf Shores, AL  36542
251-943-2111

 

 

Sunset Cork Room

225 E. 16^th Avenue

Gulf Shores, AL 36542

251-967-4772

 

Tacky Jacks Gulf Shores
240 E 24th Ave
Gulf Shores, AL 36542
251-948-8881

 

 The Hangout

101 W Beach Blvd
Gulf Shores, AL 36542
251-948-3030

 

Orange Beach

Flippers Sports Bar
5749 Bay La Launch Ave
Orange Beach, AL
251-981-3547

 

Ginny Lane’s
4780 Wharf Pkwy, Suite F101
Orange Beach, Al 36561
251-224-6500

 

Rafters Restaurant @ the Wharf
4725 Main Street, Suite 228
Orange  Beach, AL  36561
251-224-6900

 

Shipp's Harbour Grill
27842 Canal Rd
Orange Beach, AL
251-981-9891

 

Shuckers at the Wharf
4673 Wharf Parkway
Orange Beach, AL 36561
251-224-1007

 

Tacky Jacks Orange Beach
27206 Safe Harbor Drive
Orange Beach, AL 36561
251-981-4144

 

Tipseas Steam Shack
23479 Perdido Beach Blvd
Orange Beach, AL 36561
251-981-8477

 

Surrounding Area

Tin Top Restaurant & Oyster Bar
17240 Bon Secour Hwy
Bon Secour, Al  36511
251-949-5086

 

Pirate's Cove

6664 County Road 95
Elberta, AL  36530
251-987-1224

The Frog Pond at Blue Moon Farm
19375 Rada Rd
Silverhill, AL

251-232-3072

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10 Must-Dos When You Visit Orange Beach & Gulf Shores for Spring Break

1. Go to the Beach – we have miles of pristine beaches for you to enjoy. Typically this time of year the water is more than 70 degrees. If you feel like dipping your toes in, go right ahead.
2. Catch a big fish – experience the thrill of reeling in a salt-water sports fish by booking a tour with one of the many experienced charter fishermen in Orange Beach.
3. Go on Safari – 5 Rivers Delta offers pontoon boat safaris as well as canoe and kayak tours through the Mobile-Tensaw delta.
4. Go Geocaching – located between Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Gulf State Park has the longest fishing pier on the Gulf of Mexico as well as a list of geocaching locations and hiking trails.
5. Catch a game – Gulf Shores is a premier destination for national sports tournaments. You have a great opportunity to scout talent and see the stars of tomorrow competing today.
6. Amaze the kids – the Exploreum in Mobile is a hands-on science museum for kids currently featuring Giant Insects.
7. Explore history – Step into seafaring life at the Orange Beach Indian and Sea Museum. h Located in an old school house it retains original furnishings and has numerous artifacts related to fishing and Indian life. Call for a tour – 251-981-8545. It is open Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 – 1 and by appointment to groups of five or more.
8. Enjoy live music – sway to the rhythm of the islands at one of several venues offering live music daily – LuLu’s Homeport in Gulf Shores , the Hangout or plenty of others.
9. Get a great deal – Tanger Outlets  in Foley bogles the mind and staggers the imagination with possibilities. In addition to the many stores and nearby restaurants, the center offers photos with the Easter Bunny each weekend in April.
10. Take in some beauty – Stop by the Orange Beach Art Center  to enjoy a free stroll through the gallery of emerging local artists. For a $20 donation you receive a free blown-glass ball as a lasting souvenir of your visit to the area.

Orange Beach Festival of Art is Just Around The Corner

A host of artists from around the country converges on Orange Beach the second weekend in March for the Orange Beach Festival of Art. Just as the warmer weather draws people outside to appreciate spring, it will be time to admire everything from the quaint to the exquisite.

The event is hosted by the Orange Beach Arts Center where it started almost 20 years ago. The event has grown and increased in momentum each year and this is no exception.   The festival expects to draw in 12,000 art fans March 12^th and 13th.

This year the festival offers four new attractions :

Literary Arts Tent – visit with local luminaries and celebrities, attend book signings and enjoy writers reading their works 

Performing Arts Stage – take in local and regional dance and drama troupes

Songwriters and Musicians Stage – sing along with local and regional musicians

Kid’s Art Alley – interactive games and projects appeal to kids’ natural love of art and music

Located on beautiful Wolf Bay, The Orange Beach Festival of Art is held on the Arts Center's campus and the adjoining Waterfront Park. 

Price: The event is free to the public.

Address : 26389 Canal Road, Orange Beach, AL 36561

Hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, March 12 and 13

For more information visit www.obfoa.com/