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First And Fiftieth For Hopcraft As Art Festival Nears

    Umatilla resident, artist, and retired educator Gary Hopcraft is the poster artist for this year’s 50th Annual Mount Dora Art Festival. His mixed media work, “Schooled By Nature” was chosen for 2025 poster and can be viewed in the Art Center Gallery along with a collection of posters throughout the years. 
    Gary is a lifelong artist, educator, and supporter of the arts. He was the poster artist at the first festival in 1975 and also in 1992.   He is an alumna of Ringling School of Art & Design and is proficient in many art disciplines. He taught art in Lake County schools for 35 years and many of his students have gone on to college and careers in the arts. Gary is currently Mount Dora Center for the Arts Board member emeritus after being a board member for over 20 years, is one of the founders of Mount Dora Art Festival, and continues to take an active role in the festival. Gary is retired but still teaching art, mostly to kids and grandkids now.
    Mount Dora Arts 50th Festival is February 1 and 2 in downtown Mount Dora with 300 juried artists competing for $20,000 in cash prizes. The festival features original artwork available for sale.  The festival runs Saturday, February 1, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, February 2, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and free to attend.  For further festival information go to www.MountDoraArt.org or call 352-383-0880.