The Buda Fine Arts and Jazz Festival was a huge success with visitors who enjoyed fantastic weather, great art and music on the downtown city park by the Gazebo. Restaurants and local business folks reported good crowds on both days and many children sported face paintings to match the festive atmosphere. The event is annually presented by a non-profit organization of volunteers called the Buda Fine Arts Festival Committee.
Kim Kafka opened the events, setting the bar high for The Numbers/ACC Dixieland Band, The Austin Brass Band, Steve Schoen’s Band, Let the Saxes and Trumpets Play, Liz Morphis and Dena Taylor. Children and adults were dancing to the music while on Sunday performances were started off by Acoustic Jungle, Dance Unlimited and Dance by Carly. Children’s dance performances stole the show until the Beatle music by Kim Kafka brought folks to their feet. Dennis Lockhart – New Covenant Ensemble with Gospel songs was a real inspiration. Sultry songs by Kim Kafka and Morris Nelms rounded out the dat. The Taste of the Season, led by the Buda Economic Development Corporation, supported the event with wine tasting and samples from local restaurants on Saturday.
In its 9th year, the sold out artists booths were competing for various art contests. Winners are: Best In Show, Eric Holcomb; Peoples Choice, Gene Swenson; Best Artist, Arthur Secula; Best Jeweler, Nora Pero; Best Photographer, Gene Swensen; Best 3-D, Suzan Germond; and Best Fiber Artist, Oscar Silva. Judges for the fine artists were non-BFAF members Jane Fier, Marilyn Rodriquez and Michael Bauer/President of the Wimberley Valley Art League.
The Children’s Art Contest winners are: ages 1-7: Logan Sherman-1st Place, Presley Sammons, 2nd, Alana Cisneros, 3rd. In levels 8-12 the winners: Damina Rameraz, 1st Place, Hoyden Ocker, 2nd, and Zackery Anderson, 3rd. In levels 13-18: Brenda Veloz, 1st Place, Juan Salina, 2nd and Cheyanne Helt was 3rd. All First Place winners will have their art displayed at Cabelas in November.
The silent art auction, with 100 percent of proceeds going towards scholarships for students going into the field of visual arts/ higher education, was well attended. The money spent on fine art donated by the artists goes to the Carolynn Schneider Memorial Scholarships Fund. The next opportunity for Hays and Lehman high school students to apply through the BFAF committee begins in October of 2013 at their respective schools.
Wild Game free food samples was a hit and the Seniors Quilt Show at the City Hall was well visited. More than 200 visitors came to the Buda Library to view the student art exhibits from local elementary schools.
For more information view www.BudaFineArtsFestival.com
