Boulevard of Art

It’s a cultural happening so prolific that event organizers have to splice it into two seasonal segments. The Las Olas Art Fair transforms Fort Lauderdale’s tony downtown district into a pavilion rife with collectibles every January and again every March. The first installment happens along Las Olas Boulevard, from SE 6th Avenue to SE 11th Avenue, this Saturday and Sunday. The outdoor, upscale arts jubilee, now in its 18th year, is a local tradition that draws thousands of visitors to the street. You can find paintings, sculptures, photography, jewelry, and more at this open-air art fair. Roads are blocked off from traffic so meanderers can leisurely wander throughout the spread of mini art galleries set out under tents, chat with exhibiting artists, and browse wares available for purchase, from $15 watercolors to $20,000 sculptures. Food, drinks and live music are also on tap to make it easier for you to open your wallet all weekend. The Las Olas Art Fair is a juried occasion, which means that there will be a selective array of works on display. In fact, out of more than 1,000 applications, approximately 250 artists are chosen by producers Howard Alan Events Ltd. to participate in the opus. Highlighted artists on the roster for the 2006 Las Olas Art Fair include Boynton Beach’s own Rayma Isaacs, who creates multi-dimensional, sculptural pieces on board and canvas; David Chapple, whose paintings of automobiles merited him the Passion of Motoring Award at the MeadowBrook Concours d’ Elegance in 2005; Kristen DeSantis, a figure illustrator who works in metal; and Julio Garcia, a world traveler who produces figurative-abstract creations.
Jan. 7-8, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.