By Kathy L. Collins
On Monday, May 6, the Eastern Hillsborough Art Guild, known as EHAG, held it’s Annual May Banquet and Installation of Officers at the Plant City Women’s Club located at 1110 N. Wheeler St. in Plant City.
EHAG will be led by Valrico resident, Joe Simpson, an acrylic and color pencil artist. Simpson said his goal for the next year is simple. “I want to promote art in general. I want to get art into the community and get people to come to events and see the talents for the local artists.”
The rest of the Executive Board will include Mary Jane Wagoner as Treasurer; Marlene Issac as Membership Chair; Pam West as Corresponding Secretary; Sharon Woolsey as Recording Secretary; and Paula Aigner as First Vice President.
EHAG promotes art in the community in a number of different ways. EHAG holds several events throughout the year that allow artists to display their work publicly. In September, you can view EHAG’s Annual Members Show at the Bruton Memorial Library located at 302 W. McLendon St. in Plant City.
In the fall, it hosted an outdoor art event which features the artwork of member and non-member artists.
In December, EHAG holds its annual Christmas Showing of Fine Art. While this is a members only show, the public is invited to attend.
Each year during the Florida Strawberry Festival, EHAG hosts the Florida Strawberry Festival Fine Art Show. There are a variety of categories and even children are invited to participate and compete. Thousands of Strawberry Festival attendees walk through the show.
Money raised from the entry fees at the Florida Strawberry Festival Fine Arts Show is used to fund the EHAG Scholarship Fund. This year scholarships were given to Very Special Arts (VSA) of Florida and to the McDonald Training Center. Deborah Lulei, Chair of the Scholarship Fund said, “I researched the two organizations, and EHAG decided that the scholarship money would reach more artists this way.” Both organizations offer art to special needs individuals.
For more information on EHAG, please visit www.ehagfinearts.com. If interested in becoming a member or getting information on the children’s classes, email ehag2010@gmail.com.
