Special to the Herald
The Seminole Cultural Arts Council is pleased to announce that Bonnie Sprung of Altamonte Springs was selected as Seminole County’s 2024 Artist of the Year.
Bonnie Sprung earned an Associates of Fine Arts degree at Valencia Community College and a Bachelor's Degree of Art from Hofstra University in New York, with a major in Theatrical Production and a minor in Graphic Design. She specialized in makeup and set design and trained in perspective drawing, 2-and-3 dimensional design, drafting, layout and photography. Ms. Sprung worked on several magazines as both a photographer and writer, and as photography became a passion, she mastered the art of theatrical photography, actors' head shots and capturing bodybuilders on film, which led her to the art of body sculpting with iron. She's an accomplished National Competitor in the field. Bonnie is the owner of three businesses, all dealing with art or fitness. She has over 25 years’ experience in curating and judging art exhibits and high school thespian competition, and is a past-president and member of the Florida Chapter of Women's Caucus for Art. In addition to designing sets, Bonnie shows her fine art in galleries and art fairs.
She has shown in exhibitions and galleries including the Spectrum Miami Art Fair, Grey Cube Gallery Artist Choice Art Show, "A Celebration of Women in the Arts: Legacies" – WCA Group Show at Casselberry City Hall, the Art Center of Sarasota, “Artists on Piney Green" Group Show in Orlando, City arts Factory in Orlando, Art of Healing at Florida Hospital (now AdventHealth) in Altamonte Springs, Baterbys Local Artist Competition in Winter Park, “Artists Reflect on September 11th” – Group Show at the Barefoot Spa Gallery in Orlando, Webber Center CFCC in Ocala, 3TEN HAUSTUDIO in Atlanta, Georgia, Oval Gallery in Orlando, Maitland Art Center, Orlando Museum of Art, Arts Work Orlando, and Sanford First Street Gallery. She was named the 2021 Artavita Artist of the Year.
Bonnie has a long record of community service in Central Florida and Seminole County. She participated in countless cultural events over the years like the Orlando Fringe Festival. She’s also served as a volunteer and judge in many student art exhibits at Valencia College, Seminole State College, and for Seminole County Public Schools. She’s also a longtime supporter and board member of SCAC. To learn more about Bonnie, please visit: www.bonniesprung.com.
Reflecting on her career, Bonnie said, "My award-winning fine art includes paintings, mixed media, and photography, and I have exhibited in numerous solo and group shows. My photography has been chosen and published in two books for United Arts of Central Florida Red Chair Project. I have work in galleries and in public and private collections. Besides creating fine art, I have done set de-sign, scenic painting, make-up and stage management for over 300 shows locally and inNew York. as a set designer, I’ve done work with small theatres with no set budget and that’s where I get creative with what I have in my shed.
Since 1986 I own Uniquely Sprung Art and Photography Studio and Muscular Motion Gym. In 2000, I was introduced to public art and since I [have] created designs for lizards, swans, butterflies, clowns, gators and geckos." SCAC is pleased to honor her as this year's Artist of the Year!
Formed in 1994, the Seminole Cultural Arts Council (SCAC) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering sponsorships, fundraising events, a grants program, a county-wide arts and cultural map, community- based arts programming, and much more. SCAC is a catalyst for the preservation of local cultural and historic heritage, including performing, literary, and visual arts and sciences. Utilizing social media, SCAC acts as a clearing house for arts and culture announcements in Seminole County and Central Florida. Our mission is to serve, support and nurture the cultural and artistic needs of our residents, and to sustain, develop and advance the cultural life of Seminole County.
In May 1995, the Seminole County Board of Commissioners designated SCAC as the official recipient of specialty Florida State of the ARTS license plate funds. With this and other fundraising efforts, SCAC is able to provide grants to arts and cultural organizations, individual artists, and the community.
Over the next 18 months, SCAC will be celebrating its thirtieth anniversary with a series of events. It is kicking off the celebration by announcing Seminole County’s Artist of the Year for 2024.
SCAC began to award Seminole County’s Artist of the Year to recognize and outstanding individual or group who has achieved artistic excellence and made a significant impact on the artistic community of Seminole County. More than two dozen men and women have been recognized by SCAC over the last thirty years.
Bonnie Sprung was recently formally recognized by the Seminole County Board of Commissioners at their morning session board meeting in the Seminole County Commission Chambers at the Seminole County Services Building.
