EAST MANATEE — Famous for its pristine lawns, its Terrace on the Green clubhouse restaurant and a demanding golf course, the 20-year-old Peridia Golf & Country Club off State Road 70 is also getting well known for its annual art event.
The 11th annual Fine Arts & Crafts Extravaganza, scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday at the Peridia clubhouse, is becoming a popular public event with a variety of goods for the holiday shopper.
The show will feature its largest field of artists ever this year: 33, including 13 from Peridia.
The art work —including oil and watercolor paintings, jewelry, wood and stained glass, fabric and floral art —will be shown in several rooms inside the clubhouse, 4950 Peridia Blvd. E., said Peridia artist Ileen Davis, chairwoman of the 2009 event.
“We have a very wide range of art this year, everything but pottery,” Davis said. “The Terrace on the Green will be open during the show so people can purchase their lunch a few steps away. It’s just a great, fun day, usually with lots of people who don’t live here stopping by.”
Peridia artist Lisa Lee, who will have about 40 pieces at the show, has created floral art for 18 years using natural and artificial items. She will display large “lifetime” wreaths, wall baskets, topiary trees and cornucopias. Her work ranges from $3.95 to $69.95.
“I give away a lot of my art, and this show allows me to be able to buy materials and keep doing that,” Lee said.
Peridia artist Lynn Mullins will bring 30 pieces to the show, including some from her “tropical period” featuring watercolors of parrots and other exotic birds. Her paintings range from $20 to $95.
“Her pictures draw you in,” said fellow Peridia artist Leonard Murray, who uses a scroll saw to create wood art like Christmas ornaments, wall hangings and nativity scenes. Murray uses different types of wood and epoxies them together.
Murray’s Nativity scenes go for $45 and his Christmas ornaments are $8.
Davis herself is well known for her bright, classy gift bags, which she designs for anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays, each made out of festive colors of fabric, with a color matched string tie.
She sold 100 last year. She made 204 for this year and they cost $5 each.
“I got the idea when I gave a bottle of wine for a gift and realized how naked it looked,” said Davis, whose gift bags are also good for candy, candles, bread sticks and pasta.
Peridia is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and shows its dedication to its artists during the event.
“We’re just thankful that people come back to see us year after year,” Mullins said.
Richard Dymond, Herald reporter, can be reached at 748-0411, ext. 6686
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