Clearwater Hosts Downtown Arts Stroll

photos/text by Sandi Fahy

(from left) Mai Yang and Lyza Yang of the Florida Hmong Community in Clearwater display an example of Hmong Folk Arts at the Downtown Arts Stroll in Clearwater on November 18. The embroidered wall hanging shown features an original design by Mai Ling which depicts the history of the people who came to the United States from Southeast Asia. The Downtown Development Board, Clearwater Main Street and City of Clearwater Cultural Affairs Division were sponsors of the fifth annual event, which included a "paint-out" competition among area artists along with art exhibits, demonstrations, musical entertainment and more.

((seated) Kathleen Araujo of Dunedin, (standing l-r) Candace Ripoli of Clearwater, Melissa Miller Nece of Palm Harbor and Susan McCubbin of Palm Harbor smile for the camera at Clearwater's Downtown Arts Stroll on November 18. All are members of the Colored Pencil Society of America, Gainesville - District Chapter 113, which is one of three chapters in Florida. McCubbin is chapter president, Ripoli vice president. Araujo serves as secretary. Nece, a past president of Chapter 113, was recently been named Ways and Means Director of the national organization. The CPSA, which has some 1,700 members worldwide, was founded in 1990 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of colored pencil art and artists.