The First Annual ‘Sea Turtle Arts Rescue Festival’/S.T.A.R.

My donation to the Festival, "The Queen and her Attendant"
20WX16H,charcoal & gouache on watercolor canvas panel

The First Annual ‘Sea Turtle Arts Rescue Festival’/S.T.A.R. to benefit The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center

The Sea Turtle Arts Rescue /S.T.A.R. organization is proud to present the first annual Sea Turtle Arts Festival, July 8th and 9th from 9:00 am until 9:00 pm. The festival will be held in The Arts and Antique District, 500 & 600 blocks of Castle St., Wilmington, N.C. This event is FREE to the public and will include many fun things to see and do for the entire family.

Painters, clay, wood and metal sculptors, jewelry artists from across the U.S., will have work for show and sale. Many of the artists have donated pieces that will be included in a silent auction which will be held at The Cape Fear Playhouse, 613 Castle St., during the festival. 100% of the proceeds from the auction will go to benefit the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center.

“We have more than 50 works of art for the auction, including a hand-formed steel sea turtle complete with it’s egg-filled nest, by a New Hampshire metal artist, known as The Torchcutter.” said Bambi Chappell, a clay sculptor from Southport, N.C. who initiated the event.

Karen Wiles, a photographer from Hampstead, N. C., has donated a print of her award winning photo ‘Dawn of the New Year.’ She said, "I think it’s a perfect piece to be auctioned in the turtle hospital fundraiser, as it displays the absolute beauty of our local waters in North Carolina, which are so vital to the turtles and to all of us in this area. ‘Dawn of the New Year’ was taken on the first morning of 2011 and Topsail Island is shown in the background. This particular piece of artwork has won two art competitions, and earlier this month won an award in the Wilmington Art Association's Spring Juried Art Show as part of the ‘Azalea Festival’ art exhibits."

Jim Calder, world famous wood sculptor and carver, also know as ‘The Wizzard of Wood,’ will teach the elements of carving to children who bring a sweet potato to the festival. Jim says, "Sweet potatoes come in interesting shapes, they're easy to carve, and they dry into a brick-hard substance that retains the carving and actually resembles wood. The kids really get a kick out of it. The tools for carving the potatoes vary from pocket knives to sharpened popsicle sticks.” Gina Locklear, owner of Gypsy Gina’s Arts and Antiques said, “Jim Calder has also donated a life-size Tiki sculpture which everyone will have a chance to win just by making a purchase of $10.00 or more at any of the shops on the route. Your receipt will be your entry to win this magnificent work of art.”

There will be street performers, face painting for the kids, an old fashioned apple bobbing contest, sidewalk chalk art, and more. The organizers are particularly excited to present the line up of live bands which includes The Cosmic Groove Lizards and Transtrum, among others. Also of interest, New Guy Productions, a local Indy film company, will be documenting the two day festival.

Please visit The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center website, to make a donation or learn more about the important work they do to save these precious creatures. http://www.seaturtlehospital.org/

For more information regarding the festival, contact Gina Locklear at
910-777-9629.