Sedona AZ (November 3, 2010) – Nearly 4,500 arts patrons, collectors or just those who like to spend time strolling through 160 artist tents attended the 2010 Sedona Arts Festival, an estimated 20 percent increase over 2009 says festival organizers.

“We knew we had a great field of artists for the Festival, and the weather couldn’t have been better,” said Executive Director Lori Reinhart. “It was a great day for the artists, for the Festival and for the young people who will benefit from our scholarships.”

The Sedona Arts Festival is the organization’s only fund-raising event of the year and all net proceeds benefit the scholarship fund for graduating Sedona-area students pursuing arts education and for grants to arts organizations.

“We expect to be able to increase the number of scholarships and grants we award this year,” Reinhart said.

 At this year’s event, Bill Colligen of Chino Valley; Bill Fickinger and Barbara Elllison from Salt Lake City; and, Donna and Jeff Tousley of Rio Rico earned their second consecutive Best of Show Awards, Colligen for his gourd vessels, Flickinger and Ellison for metal, and the Tousleys for ceramics.

Other 2010 Sedona Arts Festival Best of Show Award winners were:

• Painting:  JanyRae Seda, Boise, Idaho

• Sculpture:  Josh Cote, Josh Cote Fine Sculpture, Blachly, Oregon

• Drawing: Seung Lee, Seung Lee Studio, Maplewood, Minnesota

• Mixed Media:  Dave Sisk, Gourd Masque, Tucson

• Jewelry: Bronwen Heilman, gHosTcOw Glassworks, Tucson

• Fiber Art: Jenny Kerr, Pine Needle Creations, Phoenix

• Glass: Jared Davis, Crawford, Colorado

For more information, visit the Sedona Arts Festival website.

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