“Florida’s Finest” showcases the wide-ranging talents of Florida-based artists and includes two- and three-dimensional works in a variety of media. R. Lynn Whitelaw, the founding director and curator of the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art at St. Petersburg College will jury this year’s exhibition to be installed in all four of the center’s galleries. The exhibition’s substantial awards ($1,500 for first prize; $1,000 for second prize; $500 for third prize; $250 for merit awards; and $100 for special recognitions) attract top artists from around the state. “Florida’s Finest” is funded, in part, by the Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax Revenues.

Congratulations to these awarding artists!

1st Place - Jana Millstone, "Fire"

2nd Place - Raymond Lawler, "The Band Played On"

3rd Place - Nathan Beard, "Exit Music #58 (The Effects of Passing through One Another)"

Merit - Lynn Foskett, "Stacked"

Merit, Mike Hanlon, "Michael Gruber"

Special Recognition - Brandon Richards, “Post-Apocalyptic”

Special Recognition - Julie Ross, “Caged Bird”

Special Recognition - Kathy Simon-McDonald, “The Street Artists of Sarasota”

Special Recognition - Leslie Neumann, “Winds of Change”

Special Recognition - Michael Decker, “Dirk”