Flamingo Follies art festival draws 7,000 patrons of the arts

NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick.

Jenny Stine of New Smyrna Beach, paper mache artist, or as she calls it, "papier mache," talks with a customer during the Flamingo Follies art street festival Saturday on Flagler. There are diverse pieces of artistry and homemade crafts as shown in the photos.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Even with the recession, people still like to come out to street festivals, even if to browse, and as evidenced Saturday on Flagler Avenue, maybe even make some purchases like Mark Kennedy did.

"I actually bought some things -- I spent $18," said Kennedy, a 50-year-old self-employed insurance broker from New Smyrna Beach. "I think people have come to look and buy. I am an optimist.

The Flamingo Follies street festival allows artists like Jenny Stine to show their wares, in this case paper mache, or as she calls it, "papier mache."

The full-time restaurant worker has been displaying her paper mache work for nearly a decade at such street festivals, helping her to supplement her income, but more important, to create the artistry she loves.

She was pleased with Saturday's browsers: "Some are looking. Some are buying."

Mayor Adam Barringer enjoyed "Pancakes in the Park," a fundraiser for the Historic Museum of New Smyrna Beach at Old Fort Park, that drew hundreds, and then he headed over to Flamingo Follies to check out the art work.

"I thought they were good," the first-week mayor said of both events. "It was just a picture-perfect weather day. It couldn't have been any better."

Nicole Garni of the Galleria Di Vetro, Glass Gallery & Studio,said there were about 7,000 patrons throughout the day Saturday. The street festival continues again today under equally nice weather.