March 9, 2006 – This year's Flower and Fine Art Festival at St. George Village Botanical Garden will begin Friday evening, March 10, with the Artists' Reception and Art Sale from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., in the Great Hall. Many of the 29 participating artists will be present to discuss their techniques, the mediums they use, and the inspiration for their work.
Violinist Barbara Murray will play during the reception, and hors d'oeuvres and an open bar will be available (with an admission fee paid at the door). The Art Sale will continue throughout Saturday and Sunday, March 11 and 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
St. Croix artist Rasa Glengary, who is also chairing the event, has donated an original watercolor floral painting that provides the theme of the festival. Posters of her painting will be on sale, and the original work will be raffled off, with the drawing on Sunday at 3 p.m.
Also throughout the weekend, St. Croix's hibiscus, orchid, bonsai and fern societies will present a display in the Garden's Great Hall. Other highlights will include "Art in the Garden," with outdoor exhibits by local artists Cindy Male and Dan Wilson.
This will be the third year that the festival includes "Art in Bloom" put together by David M. Hamada, the garden's horticultural director, in the Garden's Education Center. It will be open Friday evening through Sunday afternoon.
The Bonsai Society's Rudy O'Reilly will present a Bonsai Workshop at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, which will be followed by a raffle of a bonsai starter kit. At the same time, Hamada will hold an Origami Workshop for children.
On Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Manuel Gonzales Andujar from Puerto Rico will hold a Floral Design Workshop. He will focus on techniques best suited to arranging tropical flowers. The arrangements will be raffled off at the end of the workshop. Also at 1:30 on Sunday, Glengary will hold a Children's Workshop on painting on seagrape leaves.
Guided tours will be held at noon and 2:30 on Saturday and Sunday. The Garden's Nursery will be open from noon to 3 p.m. both days; and there will be local food vendors and a cash bar. The Garden's gift shop will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The admission ($5 for adults; free to children under 12) for Saturday and Sunday is paid at the gate. All proceeds benefit the Garden's mission of conservation, education and preservation.
For information, call Lesley Hoffman at 692-2874 for information.
