The Pelican Island Preservation Society annual IR Bird & Nature Art show has picked the judges for their show Oct. 11-13th at the Sebastian River Art Club on Main Street in Sebastian next to the City Hall building… Judging takes place on Friday after 1pm. Awards will be known at the Friday Artists Reception 6-8pm. The public is welcome to attend.

Ginny Piech Street, ” I have the opportunity to continue my clay work as co-founder and studio manager for Indian River Clay in Vero Beach.I’m appreciative of the interest and support that the residents of the Treasure Coast have for the arts. With a BFA in printmaking, I am way out of my league with clay, but playing in the mud is too much fun. I’ve been working in clay for about 6 years and have found that it is easy to carry one’s imagery and style from medium to medium. The tactile nature of clay immediately engages my senses and involves me creatively. One can’t be passive when ones hands are deep in mud!I also enjoy collaboration as it nurtures a strong creative environment and builds lasting alliances in the art community. I’ve been hooked on the creative process for as long as I can remember. I enjoy the surprise of where it takes me. My desire is to share this joy.” GinnyKaren “Keko” Ekonomou, “Keko is an accomplished painter and ceramic artist, rediscovering clay about 16 years ago. She is quick to point out her imaginative and colorful paintings are now in three dimension.  Growing up on the sunny east coast of Florida she often sculpts flamboyant marine characters that look as if they were plucked right from the shoreline then whimsically posed. “I find myself laughing at my silly sculptures. While making them, I try and imagine how they ended up in this crazy position with such a puzzled look on their face!”

Keko is co-founder of Flametree Clay Art Gallery in historic downtown Vero Beach, where she currently exhibits her fun and funky ceramic art and her colorful birdbaths can be found in Vero Beach at M. Maison on Ocean Drive and Costal Comforts in the Village Shops. Her past work including hand painted clothing and furniture, has been featured in shops and galleries all along the eastern seaboard from Vermont to St. Croix.”

Barbara duPont, “combines her love of travel with a passion for photography. She believes that the eyes are the window of the soul and strives to convey that message with her wildlife portraits.  A Vero Beach resident for 36 years, she has shown her photography at local and national galleries. She is a member of the prestigious Photographic Society of America. An award winning photographer, she has received numerous awards at the annual juried A.E. “Bean” Backus Photography competition, including a First Place for “Himba Boy”.  Her bald eagle, “Perfect Landing”, was chosen from more than 60,000 applicants, as a runner up in a Parade Magazine national contest. Chosen by the Press Journal as an Editors’ Pick, it also won the highest award in the 3rd Quarter Florida Council Camera Club.  Barbara is an owner/artist at Gallery 14, Vero Beach.

To find out more about the Art show visit:

www.firstrefuge.org/indian-river-birding-fest-nature-art show or facebook.com/PIPSIndianRiverBirdNatureArtShow

This kicks off National Wildlife Refuge Week for the Pelican Island Wildlife Refuge located on A1A south of the Sebastian Inlet on the Lagoon side.