Page 58 - South Mississippi Living - October, 2024

ALL TOGETHER NOW
Peter Anderson Legacy Award
Booth Award Garland Farwell.
FESTIVAL WINNERS FROM 2023 SET TO RETURN THIS YEAR
Story by Cherie Ward
Photos courtesy of Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce
It just seems fitting that last year’s award-winning Blue Moon Art Project piece was titled “All Together Now” since all of the honorees are slated to return to the Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival next month.
Artisan Elizabeth Huffmaster of Saucier won last year’s art
competition with her depiction of colorful Gulf Coast fish swimming
toward the Blue Moon logo. Her winning artwork was on display in the Ocean Springs Visitors Center and will appear on signage and souvenir cups to promote this year’s trademark event and celebrations.
Adam Plitt of Gulfport garnered another top place with the “People’s Choice Award.” Festivalgoers voted for his piece “Two Moons” which depicted an astronaut and the Blue Moon logo.
Now in its 14th year, the Blue Moon Brewing Company in connection with F.E.B. Distributing Company has been partnering with the festival to inspire art communities. Their original slogan “Artfully Crafted,” shows Blue Moon has a passion for the arts and has used its product to create successful artfully inspired projects throughout the nation and in Ocean Springs.
Other annual awards given out each year throughout the two-day event include a legacy award in honor of the art-inspired event’s namesake. Judges travel the show and evaluate the booths of individual artists and craftsmen and their works.
Last year’s honorees were “Best of Show” presented by Blue Moon to Laurel Browning of Trussville, Alabama, for her texted paintings. The “Peter Anderson Legacy Award” went to Sam Clark of Madison, Mississippi, for his sculpted characters. The “Award of Excellence” was given to Amy Fitzpatrick of Yellville, Arkansas, for her silver, brass, and copper sheet and wire jewelry and accessories. The “Award for the Creative Arts” was given to Steve Meadows of Palestine, Illinois, for his creatively carved metal faces. And, the best “Booth Award” was presented to Garland Farwell of York, Alabama, for his wood and metal art.
The state-wide Blue Moon Art Project is made possible through the Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival. Submissions are accepted annually from August through October by the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce-Main Street-Tourism Bureau.
Blue Moon Winner
Elizabeth Huffmaster.
58 | October 2024
Sam Clark.
Award for the Creative Arts
Steve Meadows.
Award of Excellence Best of Show Amy Fitzpatrick. Laurel Browning.
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
Blue Moon People’s Choice Award Adam Plitt.