Maitland City Talk

This week, the city of Maitland is alive with events that will bring tens of thousands of art patrons to our community. The 22nd Annual Maitland Spring Festival of the Arts will showcase arts and crafts and bring thousands to the heart of our city on Saturday, April 17. In addition, the Florida Film Festival, whose home base is Maitland's very own Enzian Theater, kicked off last Friday and runs through Sunday, April 18.

As if that weren't enough, Maximum Capacity, an art presentation and show, which features the artwork of 32 budding contemporary artists from the University of Central Florida, is presented at the Village at Lake Lily for the first time in the history of the program at UCF.

This show is unique because it brings together community, culture and commerce to showcase how partnerships throughout a community serve to strengthen the bonds of that community like no other.

Conducting themselves as professional artists, these UCF students who are displaying senior art thesis projects have come together to design, construct and market their own gallery opening. Under the supervision of UCF Professor of Art Robert Reedy, the artists have been challenged to transform an alternative space into an art gallery rivaling venues in New York and Los Angeles.

In partnership with UCF and recognizing this creative capital here in Central Florida, the Maitland Art Center will award studio scholarships to two of the artists. Recipients are selected by a jury panel of local and distinguished professional artists. And due to the generosity and special efforts made by Jon C. Wood, president of Urbanscape Properties/Morgan Group, the diverse group of artists is able to create a contemporary and dynamic space for their work. The group came up with the title "Maximum Capacity" to showcase the large number of artists with exceptional talent in an enormous space.

Rob Reedy said it best in his introduction to his students, "The impossible has been made possible. The bar has been raised! We can look back to this moment and remember the creative spirit that coursed through this event. Our hope is that, in some way, it continues. We have seen and confirmed the incredible things accomplished when we work in unison. We will always reflect on this time together."

Generally, this art show has been presented on campus, but through the leadership of the students, UCF and local businesses, the show has brought an element of art to the heart of Maitland never seen before.

Through the Spring Festival of the Arts, the Florida Film Festival and now Maximum Capacity, downtown Maitland has been transformed into a creative village that I dare say marvels any in the country.

You won't want to miss any of the events this weekend:

Maitland Spring Festival of the Arts, Lake Lily

Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Maximum Capacity, Village at Lake Lily

Through April 18, noon – 8 p.m.

Florida Film Festival

For a schedule, visit www.floridafilmfestival.com