May Calendar is Busy for South Walton Art Month

Art Month South Walton, an initiative led by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) and sponsored in part by Visit South Walton, is a month-long celebration of the Arts featuring events and programs presented in locations throughout Walton County. This year’s planned activities include the inaugural South Walton Street Art Festival, Digital Graffiti Drive Thru at Alys Beach, Arts Night in DeFuniak Springs, a 5th Birthday Party for The Foster Gallery, Music on Main, a Sip & Stroll at J.Leon Gallery, an online Art & More Auction benefiting the CAA, theatre performances at ECTC, and more. 

All events are part of the Art Month initiative to bring together Walton County’s communities, organizations and businesses to present quality and diverse arts entertainment. For details on each event, visit www.CulturalArtsAlliance.com. 

On Saturday, May 1st at 7:30pm, The Rep Theatre in Seaside, FL will feature singer-songwriter duo My One and Only as part of its LIVE AT THE REP series. With their polar-opposite musical backgrounds, Kassie and Benjamin meld old-school country, singer-songwriter, and alternative folk-rock into a sound that can only be described as “Southern-Soul and Curious-Grit”. Presented the “Discovery Award” by acclaimed music critic Robert K. Oermann (Nashville’s Music Row Magazine), My One And Only declares performance as their love-share to the world. Tickets can be purchased at LovetheRep.com.

Downtown Arts Night will take place Saturday, May 1st from 4:00 - 8:00 pm on Baldwin Avenue in DeFuniak Springs. Arts Night is an annual event that brings an evening of Art, Food, Music, & Fun to the charming downtown of DeFuniak Springs. Arts Night showcases dozens of local artists and crafters and will feature live music by Mike Whitty and the Sand Ole Opry, and the Forrest Williams Band. Come experience great art, great music, plenty of food and drink, and a fun night for all!

On Monday, May 3rd the CAA will debut its Art + More Auction featuring original artwork by some of your favorite artists, food and beverage experiences, overnight stays, spa packages, and more. The auction will run through May 9th and proceeds support the CAA and local artists. Browse and bid at www.2021ArtMonth.givesmart.com

The new Street Art Festival is planned for Friday, May 7th from 3:00 - 8:00 pm; Saturday, May 8th, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm, and Sunday, May 9th 10:00 am - 6:00 pm. Artists, families, friends and school groups will be creating works or art using only chalk and their imaginations. Awards will be announced Sunday at 5:00pm. Continuous live music and family lawn games will be featured in Grand Park, and a full cash bar will be available so guests can enjoy refreshments as they stroll the streets of Grand Boulevard to watch the progress of each mural from beginning to end.

J.Leon Gallery + Studio will host a Sip ‘N Stroll on Friday, May 7th from 5:00 - 7:00 pm debuting the gallery’s newest featured artists. Attendees will have the first chance to meet the artists and purchase their work. In addition, artist Kathy Schumacher and her daughter Krista Schumacher will reveal their one-of-a-kind mother/daughter painting. Only collaborating on one piece a year, this reveal is one you don't want to miss! More information can be found at jleongallery.com.

Main Street DeFuniak Springs, in partnership with Visit South Walton will continue its “Music on Main” concert series throughout Art Month. Taking place every Friday in May from 6:00 to 9:00 pm, guests are invited to enjoy a listening room experience at the historic Florida Chautauqua Theatre, located at 840 Baldwin Avenue, DeFuniak Springs, Florida, 32435. The concerts are a continuation of the non-profits inaugural series held this past February. Doors open at 6:00 pm for cocktail hour. Guests can grab a bite to eat before the concert at one of the downtown restaurants or from the food truck setup in front of the theatre. The lineup of musical acts includes regional artists and bands, including Anthony Peebles Trio (May 7), West Hine (May 14), Longleaf Drive (May 21), and The Wortheys (May 28). Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children and are available at fcweb.org/musiconmain. Ticket prices increase $5 on the day of the show. 

The 8th Annual Longleaf Writers Conference will take place in Seaside, FL May 10th through 17th, featuring award-winning, visiting authors and other special guests, including Elizabeth Stuckey-French (The Revenge of the Radioactive Lady, The First Paper Girl in Red Oak) and Snowden Wright (American Pop, Play Pretty Blues). Full conference registrations and a la carte in-person and remote seminars are available, along with options to participate in special events throughout the week, including personal consultations, and readings. Register and purchase tickets online at www.LongleafWritersConference.com. 

Digital Graffiti is a one-of-a-kind projection art festival where artists use the latest digital technologies to project their original works onto the white walls of Alys Beach. This year’s reimagined event will be an immersive drive-thru experience taking place Wednesday, May 12th through Saturday, May 15th. Each year, the festival attracts international digital artists, filmmakers, musicians, interactive designers, photographers, VJs, producers, celebrities, agency executives and fans of art, technology and architecture. Visit DigitalGraffiti.com for tickets and details.

On Saturday, May 15th from 1:00 - 3:00 pm, The Shard Shop in Grayton Beach will host a special Art Month event called "Western Lake Confetti Class.” Guests will enjoy refreshments, an art raffle, live music, and an opportunity to create a stunning piece of art using repurposed glass.  Proceeds from the event will benefit the Cultural Arts Alliance. Visit www.shardshop.com/Grayton for details.

Friday, May 14th is the opening night of Emerald Coast Theatre Company’s Theatre for Young Audiences production of Treasure Island. Stow away on the Hispaniola with Long John Silver and the crew as they hunt for hidden treasure on a remote Island.  Our young hero Emily finds mutiny, treason, and double dealings around every corner in this reinvented classic tale that promises twists at every turn. For tickets and more information regarding performance dates and times, visit www.EmeraldCoastTheatre.org.

The Foster Gallery, which is the CAA’s professional artist collective showcasing over a dozen rotating regional artists, special exhibitions and featured guests, will celebrate five years in business with a birthday party on Wednesday, May 26th from 5:00 - 7:00 pm in the gallery located at 495 Grand Boulevard, Suite J104 (next to Chicos). Guests can meet the artists, purchase one-of-a-kind artwork, and enjoy live music, food, champagne, and birthday cake! 

The Cultural Arts Alliance will host a celebration of its “Con-scious Expressions: An Insider’s Perspective” exhibit at Perla Baking Company in DeFuniak Springs on Friday, May 28th from 4:00 - 7:00 pm. The exhibit features original artwork created by residents of three dorms in the Walton Correctional Institution. See this powerful and emotional work, hear live music, enjoy refreshments, and then stroll down the street for a Music on Main performance by The Wortheys.

Art Month is made possible with support from Visit South Walton, Grand Boulevard, Florida Department of State; Division of Cultural Affairs, Silver Sands Premium Outlets, Alys Foundation, Hyatt Place Sandestin at Grand Boulevard, Blick Art Materials, Emerald Coast Magazine, and 30a.com Additional event sponsors are listed on individual event websites. For more information about Art Month and the Cultural Arts Alliance, please visit www.CulturalArtsAlliance.com/art-month.

ART MONTH SCHEDULE

MAY 1
ARTS NIGHT IN DEFUNIAK SPRINGS
Baldwin Avenue, Downtown; DeFuniak Springs
4:00 - 8:00 pm

LIVE AT THE REP
Featuring My One and Only
216 Quincy Circle, Seaside, FL
7:30pm

MAY 3
ART & MORE AUCTION GOES LIVE
Browse and bid at 2021ArtMonth.givesmart.com
Auction closes on Sunday, May 9 at 5:00 pm 

MAY 4
JR. COMPANY & THESPIAN SHOWCASE
560 Grand Boulevard, Upstairs; Miramar Beach
7:00 pm

MAY 7
SOUTH WALTON STREET ART FESTIVAL
Grand Boulevard Town Center; Miramar Beach
3:00 - 8:00 pm

SIP & STROLL
J. Leon Gallery, 13370 Hwy 98; Miramar Beach
5:00 - 7:00 pm
MUSIC ON MAIN
Featuring Anthony Peebles
Chautauqua Theatre, 840 Baldwin Avenue, DeFuniak Springs
6:00 - 9:00 pm

MAY 8 - 9
SOUTH WALTON STREET ART FESTIVAL
Grand Boulevard Town Center; Miramar Beach
10:00 am - 6:00 pm

MAY 10 – 17
LONGLEAF WRITERS CONFERENCE
Academic Village and other locations in Seaside, FL 

MAY 12 - 15
DIGITAL GRAFFITI
Alys Beach
8:00 pm

MAY 14
MUSIC ON MAIN
Featuring West Hine
Chautauqua Theatre, 840 Baldwin Avenue, DeFuniak Springs
6:00 - 9:00 pm

MAY 14-16
TREASURE ISLAND, THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
560 Grand Boulevard, Upstairs; Miramar Beach
May 14 - 15, 7:00 pm and May 16, 2:00 pm 
MAY 15
WESTERN LAKE CONFETTI CLASS AT THE SHARD SHOP
26 Logan Lane, Grayton Beach
1:00 - 3:00 pm

MAY 20-23
TREASURE ISLAND, THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
560 Grand Boulevard, Upstairs; Miramar Beach
May 20 - 22, 7:00 pm and May 23, 2:00 pm 

MAY 21
MUSIC ON MAIN
Featuring Longleaf Drive
Chautauqua Theatre, 840 Baldwin Avenue, DeFuniak Springs
6:00 - 9:00 pm

MAY 22
LIVE PAINTING & MEET + GREET AT JUSTIN GAFFREY GALLERY
21 Blue Gulf Drive, Blue Mountain Beach
7:00 - 9:00 pm

MAY 26
FOSTER GALLERY 5th BIRTHDAY PARTY
495 Grand Boulevard, Ste. J 104; Miramar Beach
5:00 - 7:00 pm

MAY 28
CON-SCIOUS EXPRESSIONS: AN INSIDER’S PERSPECTIVE EXHIBIT RECEPTION
Perla Baking Co., Baldwin Avenue, DeFuniak Springs
4:00 - 7:00 pm

MUSIC ON MAIN
Featuring The Wortheys
Chautauqua Theatre, 840 Baldwin Avenue, DeFuniak Springs
6:00 - 9:00 pm