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SARASOTA – Hundreds attend the 31st Annual downtown Sarasota Festival of the arts.

The festival has grown with each year, and now more than 250 artists exhibit their work at the free, outdoor festival. Visitors admired the life-size sculptures, paintings, jewels, photography, and ceramic pieces.

According to the Sunshine Artists Magazine, the Festival is one of the top 100 art festivals in the nation.

John Townsend has displayed his artwork for the past 20 years at the festival.

“It’s great because you get to meet a lot of nice people first of all, and that’s a good feeling more so than the money. We all need money but the feeling of someone liking your stuff so much to purchase it is very rewarding,” says Townsend.

Townsend is inspired by the marine life for his artwork, and makes each of his sculptures out of bronze.