- April 26, 2024
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The Adam Kornecki Jazz Trio: drummer David Witherspoon, bassist Dan Walters and keyboardist Adam Kornecki. Photo by Michele Meyers
Entry gate into The Casements' grounds and the Starry, Starry Night 32 art stroll. Photos by Michele Meyers
The Adam Kornecki Jazz Trio play at the Starry, Starry Night art stroll at The Casements. Photo by Michele Meyers
Watercolors by Joe Costanzo are exhibited in The Casements Cultural Center at the Starry, Starry Night art stroll. Photo by Michele Meyers
Patrons peruse the art exhibit of Joe Costanzo in the Casements Cultural Center during the Starry, Starry Night art stroll. Photo by Michele Meyers
Joe Costanzo stands amidst his watercolor exhibit in The Casements Cultural Center Photo by Michele Meyers
The Casement Guild volunteers Jade, Kathie Liviccori and Tina Thorp. Photo by Michele Meyers
Dr. Philip Shapiro, Ormond Beach Historical Society president Bonda Garrison and past president Jerry Lampe stand on the newly renovated MacDonald House front porch. Photo by Michele Meyers
Locals enjoy the sounds of the Adam Kornecki Jazz Trio at the Starry, Starry Night 32nd year of arts and culture. Photos by Michele Meyers
A rosy sunset cast its light across the north lawn of The Casements as the Adam Kornecki Jazz Trio jammed. People gathered to listen and enjoy a night of art exhibits, history and creativity at the 32nd-annual Starry, Starry Night art and history stroll on Friday, Jan. 14.
The event was a collaborative effort by the Ormond Beach Arts District, The Casements, the Ormond Beach Historical Society and the Ormond Memorial Art Museum. The first night gallery walk was held in 1990 to celebrate art and culture in Ormond Beach.
For families with kids in tow, a free art night was an option. Artist Linda King invited everyone to create their own giant paper stars at the St. James Parrish Hall.
The Casements Guild volunteers were on-hand to guide patrons toward specific exhibits or activities being offered, or to answer questions regarding the history of the house. Docent Tina Thorp was one of the first to greet visitors to The Casements Cultural Center, where artist Joe Costanzo’s watercolor paintings were on display.
“It’s great because we get people from all over along with a variety of art,” Thorp said. “Our tours are wonderful and they are free.”
Costanzo began his journey to becoming an artist in his early 20s at Paier College, an art school in Connecticut. He then started a sign painting business, which thwarted any desire to pick up a brush after work. As the art of painting signs was being replaced by computers, graphic designers and high speed printers, retirement became imminent and he began to pursue fine art watercolor painting.
Seventeen years ago, Costanzo moved to Florida and has been involved with The Casements for eight or nine of those years. The artist has held multiple exhibits at the venue and was even a docent for one year.
“I love The Casements, oh, I absolutely love it,” Costanzo said. “Everything about it. It’s just an interesting place.”
People then cruised over to the MacDonald House just east of The Casements on Granada Boulevard. and consumed refreshments while they got a history lesson. The house was built in 1903 and was in dire need of renovations, which were completed at the end of last year. As the interior awaits its future metamorphosis, museum-goers could take a look at “The First Union Church Exhibition and Time Capsules.”
Newly-nominated Ormond Beach Historical Society president Bonda Garrison was on-hand to greet everyone. This is her third year holding the position and is passionate about finishing the project her group started — to complete the renovations of the house and to turn it into the first museum of Ormond Beach history.
“We’ve got such a fabulous history here,” she said. “It’s so varied and so interesting and involves so many different peoples and different time eras. We’ve got a great story to tell and we just need a place to do it.”
