The Florida Luxe Arts Festival (FLLUXE) is bringing talent, community, and the best family-friendly experience to Downtown Panama City for its fifth year.
FLLUXE is a two-day event: Friday, March 7 from 4-8 p.m. and Saturday, March 8 from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. This free-to-the-public event promises to transform the streets into a kaleidoscope of creativity, showcasing the talents of local and international artists.
“With this being the fifth year of FLLUXE, I cannot express how excited and honored I am that the event has found such a supportive home in historic downtown Panama City,” said Jayson Kretzer, Executive Director of Bay Arts Alliance. “This festival is a true celebration of creativity and community, and I look forward to sharing this vibrant experience with local residents and visitors alike.”
Event Highlights:
• 3D Installations by locally and nationally recognized street painters along the streets of Downtown Panama City.
• In hopes of reviving the Downtown Spring Festival of the Arts, a wide variety of artisan vendors will be showcasing their handcrafted goods just outside the Center for the Arts.
• Live performances by dozens of local musicians and performing artists.
• FlaminGLOW Party: After the sun goes down, attendees can break out their glow sticks and best dance moves for the FlaminGLOW party on the Center for the Arts Lawn.
The festivities will take place just outside of the Panama City Center for the Arts along 4th Street and Luverne Avenue.
National chalk artists–Chris Carlson, Naomi Haverland, Jan Riggins, Nate Baranowski and more—will bring their talents from across the United States to the streets of Historic Downtown Panama City to create 3-D interactive pieces for the public to enjoy.
Visitors will have the chance to witness the magic unfold as the artists transform the sidewalks of downtown into a visual feast of colors and 3D illusions, as well as enjoy performances by local musicians and purchase handcrafted goods from local artisan vendors. They will also be able to enjoy the Panama City Farmers’ Market and see the newest exhibitions at the Center for the Arts.
More information about the festival can be found at www.flluxeartsfestival.com. The website will be updated as more details become available.
More about Chris Carlson
Chris has been studying anamorphic 3D perspective (the special perspective that allows a drawing to pop off the pavement) for over 10 years. He has traveled all over the country and the world studying with masters and creating artwork in front of thousands of people. In this time Chris has developed his own unique style. Chris has created artwork for national advertising campaigns with Fortune 500 companies. He has also won multiple “Best 3-D” awards at sidewalk chalk art competitions around the country and continues to push his limits and the art form to new levels.
More about Naomi Haverland
Naomi Haverland has been painting for as long as she can remember and has been doing chalk since 2011. Her anamorphic “3D” illusions are executed with the most impressive quality of any artist in the industry. She has won many recognitions and awards for her chalk art, including 7 awards at the Denver Chalk Art Festival, in Colorado, the state she is from. Her chalk art has been utilized by companies such as Harley Davidson, Blick Art Supply, Amazon, Microsoft and Skittles. Originally from Denver, in the last couple years she’s moved to Seattle and then to Florida where she currently resides. In the summertime, she focuses her skills on oil painting in her studio.
More about Jan Riggins
Jan Riggins of Fort Worth, Texas, is a largely self-taught artist who started out as a musician who grew up in a family of artists. Starting in March of 2020, she and her daughter, Olivia, began chalking on their driveway and sidewalk. This soon became a nightly activity, enjoying different themes and subjects to explore. Jan now chalks for companies and at festivals across the world, bringing 3D creations to life.
More about Nate Baranowski
Nate holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where his passion for street painting began. He is a versatile artist experienced with a range of mediums, including large chalk murals, indoor and outdoor painted murals, acrylic on canvas, and various forms of digital painting and concept art. Nate specializes in creating 3D artwork that looks like it pops right out of the ground or wall. From temporary installations to permanent painted murals, he can add a splash of creativity to any environment.
