2007 ARTIST OF THE YEAR BILL STEPHENSON RECEIVES AWARD OF EXCELLENCE AT 2007 ARTSQUEST

Contact: Tracy Louthain

850.267.1216 ext. 122

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. - June 11, 2007? Local Santa Rosa Beach artist Bill Stephenson, 2007 Artist of the year, was presented with the Award of Excellence at the 2007 ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival. This year?s festival was judged by Sam Fleeger (Curator, LeMoyne Art Foundation, Tallahassee, Fla.), Ms. Paula Katz (Assistant Curator of Art, Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, Ga.), and Tom McPherson (Director, Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile, Ala.) These regionally accredited judges recognized Bill Stephenson?s dedication and talents in the art of woodturning. ?Our area is fortunate to have such an eclectic community of artists that call Beaches of South Walton home,? says Carolina Cox Director of the Cultural Arts Association. ?We?re very proud of Bill who?s been creating exquisite pieces of art from salvaged wood for nearly two decades. He is an important part of the local art community and has dedicated about 20 years of his life to woodturning.? In 2001 he moved the facilities of WoodArt Studios from Loveland, Ohio, to Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. He produces one-of-a-kind woodturnings, all handcrafted. He teaches the art of woodturning in his studio and has taught professionally at the Appalachian Center for Crafts, John C. Campbell Folk School, University of West Florida and other venues. He has published a book titled Victorian Woodturnings and Woodworks, and more than 25 of his articles have been published in periodicals in the U.S., Great Britain, and New Zealand. His works have appeared in numerous woodturning expositions, Ohio Artistry in Wood, Ohio University Museum, and most recently in The Best of Florida ? Woodturning exposition at the Orlando Museum of Art. He has won many awards in juried competition. His works are held in a number of private collections. The wood that Stephenson uses in his creations is salvaged, from power line construction, road construction, building construction, cabinet shops, and tropical storms. Each tree is different and each section of wood is different, so an emphasis is always placed on representing the wood that nature has provided in the best possible manner yielding one-of-a-kind pieces. His use of -more-

BEACHES OF SOUTH WALTON/Page Two recycled supplies supports Beaches of South Walton?s focus on preservation and sustainability. Other local artists were also recognized at the 2007 ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival. Artist Beeb Benson of Seagrove Beach was presented with an Award of Merit and Santa Rosa Beach resident David Pascoe was recognized with the CAA Member Tent Johnny Main Award. For more information, contact Tiffany McCaskill, new product development manager, at tmccaskill@beachesofsouthwalton.com or 267-1216 ext. 121.