It seems like a natural thing to do: displaying Everglades paintings at the 19th annual In The Park With Art in Palmetto Bay.

This weekend's event will offer a chance for festival-goers to revel in South Florida's cooling temperatures while enjoying artists' renditions of Biscayne Bay, the Everglades and other South Florida sites.

But the two-day fine art juried show will offer more than landscapes. Think handmade jewelry, pottery, paintings, portraits, watercolors and other art. There also will be vendors selling food.

In The Park With Art takes place Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Palmetto Bay Village Center, 18001 Old Cutler Rd.

Admission is free. The event attracts thousands over the two days. More than 100 artists will showcase and sell their creations.

All types of fine art from sculpture to paintings to jewelry from national and local artists such as Annie Maxwell, Humberto Benitez, Jim Lewk and David Maddern will be at the show, said Yolly Buchmann, president of the Cultural Council, a nonprofit consisting of volunteers.

``It's a wonderful free family event,'' Buchmann said. ``There will be food, entertainment and several art classes for the kids.''

The Cultural Council formed in 1982 to bring artistic and cultural events to South Miami-Dade.

The year after, the council started In The Park With Art. The event was first held at the Deering Estate at Cutler.

After Hurricane Andrew in 1992 almost destroyed the estate, the art show moved to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables and the jazz concert to Metrozoo just west of Florida's Turnpike.

In October 2003, the fine art show was held at Coral Reef Park in Palmetto Bay and stayed there until this year.

This weekend the event will be on the grounds of the Palmetto Bay Village Center off Old Cutler Road.

Proceeds will go into the council's scholarship fund that helps pay college tuition for art and music students. Past scholarship recipients have received between $4,000 and $6,000.

A painting by Sam Vinikoff, A View From Matheson Hammock, was chosen by the Cultural Council as this year's commemorative poster.

The painting shows egrets and sea gulls hovering in a twilight sky. Lush mangroves jut out from beneath brackish water. In the distance, Vinikoff painted Miami's skyline.

``We chose it because it depicts South Florida and the famous Matheson Hammock Park,'' Buchmann said.

And if people want to see how Vinikoff was inspired, all they have to do is travel a few miles north on Old Cutler Road to the county park in Coral Gables.

Coming Sunday in Neighbors: A profile of 90-year-old artist Sam Vinikoff.

Join the discussion

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

     Showing: Oldest first Newest first Most-recommended first Least-recommended first

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.repliedToText@

@Nyx.replyAnswerText@

Reply to this Comment @Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@