Tens of thousands of art enthusiasts, the talent of over 250 fine artists from around the country, and incredible music combined for a spectacular 34th annual IMAGES: A Festival of the Arts this weekend. Presented by Atlantic Center for the Arts, the festival is sponsored by the County of Volusia, the City of New Smyrna Beach, the Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority, the Community Redevelopment Agency of New Smyrna Beach, Riverside National Bank, and BrightHouse Networks.

Over $100,000 in Patrons Awards and cash prizes were given. Festival awards were given in six areas by jurors Leslie King-Hammond and Ben Thompson.

“It is always a rare and humble honor to be asked by different art communities to come in and jury a festival. The work at the IMAGES extravaganza was rich with diversity, technique, intellect, and exceptional artistry. Jurying is a labor of love, hard work, but richly rewarding, and I feel very honored to have been part of this process,” Leslie King Hammond said.

“Judging IMAGES was an exhausting but wonderful experience,” Ben Thompson said. “I was really pleased with the quality and diversity of work represented, and impressed by the support of the festival locally and regionally. We chose based on the artists themselves, and their body of work, so the awards are not for individual work, but for the artists.”