Photo IDs: Image 1 - first place artwork from The Bolles School; Image 2 - second place artwork from Landrum Middle School; Image 3 - third place artwork from R.J. Murray Middle School; Image 4 – Jim and Sherry Davidson of The Davidson Companies with Bart Rahuba of Hillman Properties at the reception.

Spring Home & Art Tour kicks off in
The Neighborhoods of World Golf Village
 
St. Augustine, Fla. (March 18, 2008) – The Neighborhoods of World Golf Village’s second annual Spring Art & Home Tour got off to a great start with a Meet the Artists reception on Feb. 28. The free tour, which is ongoing throughout March, is open on Saturdays and Sundays from noon-4 p.m. 
 
Catered by the King & Bear Clubhouse, the upscale event featured live entertainment by professional musicians and students from the University of North Florida’s music program in each home and a mime who went from home to home and entertained the crowd.  Guests mingled with the artists – Heather Blanton, Sydney McKenna and Peter O’Neill – who interacted with attendees and answered questions about the inspiration behind the featured works. 
 
With more than 200 residents, real estate agents and special guests in attendance, the event offered a sneak preview of beautiful homes by American Homebuilders, Bateman & Martin, Bourre Construction Group and Stonecraft Fine Homes staged with artwork by the participating artists, along with unique artwork from eight middle schools located within a 26-mile radius of World Golf Village.
 

“The event was a rousing success. The homes are set up like art galleries, complete with lighting, staging and live entertainment. All of the artwork on tour is for sale and we actually sold quite a few pieces at the opening event. Purchasers will be able to pick up their selections after the tour is over,” said Sherry Davidson, president of Davidson Realty, Inc., organizers of the event. “All tour participants can register for a chance to win $1,000 toward artwork featured on tour, so I highly encourage everyone to come out and enjoy the event. You might just be able to take some of this great artwork home with you.”

One of the evening’s highlights was the announcement of the middle school artwork competition winners. The professional artists – Blanton, McKenna and O’Neill – judged the student artwork competition, which awarded money to the schools of the young winning artists. First place and $500 went to The Bolles School, second place and $300 was awarded to Alice B. Landrum Middle School and third place and $200 went to R.J. Murray Middle School.

“Art programs are not always well supported,” said Rebecca Williams, an art teacher at Landrum Middle School. “We often hear about cuts that are happening in school programs that often involve the arts, so just to have financial support for an art program is positively reinforcing.”

According to Davidson, several teachers and students showed up for the reception specifically to see if their students were selected as the winners.  “The students and teachers were extremely enthusiastic and indicated that they want to participate next year,” she said. “The middle school art component was a big hit that we will incorporate into our next Spring Art & Home Tour. It was amazing to see the amount of talent and dedication in those young artists. They were definitely in it to win for their schools.”

Other participating schools included Gamble Rogers Middle School, Pacetti Bay Middle School, Southside Middle School, Switzerland Point Middle School and Twin Lakes Academy.

American Homebuilders’ elegant 3,596-square foot, four-bedroom, four-bath home, located at 2044 Crown Drive in the Waterbury by the Links neighborhood is filled with artwork from middle school students.

Bateman & Martin’s Laterra Links 2,160-square-foot coach home at 178 Laterra Links Circle showcases the artwork of Atlantic Beach resident Heather Blanton and spectacular views of lakes and the King & Bear golf course.

The Ponza, a 3,594-square-foot custom home by Bourre Construction Group, is the backdrop for the land and skyscapes of St. Augustine painter Sydney McKenna, while the works of nationally-recognized oil painter Peter O’Neill are showcased at The Madeira by Stonecraft Fine Homes, located at 2645 Oakgrove Ave. in the Windmill Estates neighborhood.

All homes on tour are located at the King & Bear at World Golf Village. Complimentary Spring Home and Art Tour maps are available at the King & Bear gatehouse. For more information, call (904) 940-5000.  

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Located between Jacksonville and St. Augustine, The Neighborhoods of World Golf Village offers a variety of distinctive neighborhoods with homes priced from the $200s to $2 million.  Community amenities include first-rate schools, championship golf, community parks, shopping, the PGA TOUR Spa Laterra and world-class entertainment including the World Golf Hall of Fame and IMAX® Theater. Winner of the 2002 Florida Association of Realtors Environmental Award, World Golf Village is a Hillman Properties community, an affiliate of The Hillman Company of Pittsburgh.