Posted on Dec 1, 2022 in
NEWSWORTHY
Approximately 1,600 people attended the Sienna Art Festival, now in its fourth year.
The Sienna Art Festival drew 1,600 people at the fourth annual event, with a festival newcomer winning “Best of Show.”
Houston artist Joel Anderson took “Best of Show” honors in the juried art competition for “Things Are Looking Up 22.” Returning artist Mary Gullette won first place with “The Saxophonist,” and Beverly Cosey earned the No. 2 spot with “In the City.” Tim Herschbach won third place with his “Moon at Devil’s Garden.” Like Gullette, Herschbach has shown his work previously at the Sienna Art Festival. This was Cosey’s first time to participate in any festival.
“The success of the Sienna Art Festival goes to the artists and volunteers, who get better and better every year,” said Debra Jan Hall, Sienna resident and the event’s artist administrator. “Fifty percent of our artists were returning participants and 10 percent were first-time festival artists. Our ‘Best of Show’ winner is a professional artist and well known in the Houston art community.”
Students also showed their work and competed for top honors. Maddie Walsh won the high school category with “Colorful Sight.” Winning the middle school category was Alahnie Jones for “The Eye.” Young Zainab Abbasi earned the top spot among elementary school artists for “Fireworks In the Sky.”
In addition to browsing artwork that ranged from paintings to photography and jewelry, festivalgoers were treated to live music by “Mr. Texas Soul” Micah Edwards. Young attendees enjoyed face painting, balloon art, sand art and a bubble zone. A skating fairy added to the fun.
Those 21 and over sipped beer and wine courtesy of Texas Leaguer Brewing Co., Texas Biergarten and De Santis Selections Wine. Food trucks onsite included Twisted Grilled Cheese, Tiff’s Treats Cookies, Mary Had A Little Party, Cousins Maine Lobster, Mesquite Wood-Fired Pizza, Foreign Policy and Bad Chx.
Helping at the event were more than three dozen volunteers with the Sienna Exchange Club, Divine Savior Academy and Ridge Point High School.
We couldn’t have done it without the help of all the volunteers,” Hall said. “The Sienna Exchange Club’s 17 volunteers were rock stars. Their support on Friday and Saturday helping artists set up their booths put a smile on everyone. The artists were also so appreciative of all the great help they received from the 24 students from Ridge Point High School and the Divine Savior Academy. The students were polite and so willing to help.”
The Fort Bend Education Foundation was this year’s beneficiary, receiving $2 from each ticket sale. Sienna added to that amount to give the foundation $5,000.
Sienna Marketing Director Allison Bond says the 2023 Sienna Art Festival is slated to return again next November.
While attending Sienna Art Festival, the public also could visit Sienna model homes, all of which were open during the event. Fifteen builders offer homes priced from the $300,000s to more than $1 million in Sienna. Learn more at www.siennatx.com.
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