T

he First City Arts Center held their 13th annual Awards Show Reception at the Quayside Gallery on May 10. This is 
the gallery’s community outreach show, where artists within an eighty-mile radius of Pensacola can enter a piece for 
selection. The juried show was judged by Anthony DiFatta, and the chairperson was Irmi Pressuto. Over 161 entries were 
submitted, and 137 pieces were selected for the show. There were 22 awards given out, including: Award of Distinction, 

Award of Excellence, Joyce Bennink Memorial Award, Award of Merit, La Rua Artist House and B&B Award for Non-Traditional 
Art, Mary Lou Rink Memorial Award, Pensacola Interstate Fair Award, Art Study Club Award, and Jackson’s Starving Artist Award. 
The Quayside Gallery is one of the oldest co-op galleries in Pensacola, depending solely on the support of patrons, volunteers, and art 
connoisseurs to present the show. Preparation for the show begins in January, and volunteers build brochures and information packets to 
deliver to local areas where artists tend to frequent. 

Quayside is the largest co-op gallery in the Southeast, and strives to feature local artists from Pensacola and surrounding areas. Art is 

represented from many genres, including fi ne art paintings, sculptures, ceramics, jewelry, stained glass, etched glass, fi ne wood working 
and more. Pensacola Artists, Inc. established and still maintains Quayside Art Gallery. PAI is a cooperative organization of more than 
200 Artists and Associate Members. Founded in 1973, PAI and its Quayside Gallery are dedicated to fostering and promoting original 
fi ne arts and crafts in the West Florida region. Guided tours, free of charge, are available to interested groups and organizations upon 
request.

photos & story by

Kristina Wright

   VIP Pensacola at Quayside Art Gallery

First City Art Show Awards Reception

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Ray & Amanda Pennington

Sally Cooey & Irmi Pressuto

Doug & Patricia Bufrin 

Gillian Lee, Sharon Macomber & Cat Jordan

Carly Johnston & Jan Hoffmann

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5/30/19   6:20 AM