It's art weekend in Coconut Grove

The Coconut Grove Arts Festival and St. Stephen's Art Show start today, it will the usual full weekend (Feb. 14 through 16), of art, live music and fun.

Something new this year is the Children's Trust Art Alley in Peacock park, where children ages 2 through 11 can express their imaginations and creativity by making their own art. Abrakadoodle will present a Circus Arty Party with clown face painting, animal balloons and circus doodles and clown puppetts. This is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm.

Children will be encouraged to create their own recycled art by drawing, painting, sculpting or designing mosaics and collages, while they mimic the styles of international master artists such as Picasso, Bearden, Matisse, Miro, Hokusai, Monet, Martinez, Kahlo, and Romero Britto. A host of popular television characters are also expected to make special appearances during the weekend.

Adults of any age can also partake in the fun. Novices interested in exploring their creative side can attend “Learn to Paint” workshops hosted by Jerry’s Artarama Miami during Arts Festival opening hours.

Held daily at 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm in the Sculpture Garden, these workshops will teach the basic fundamentals of painting. Seating is limited to the first 30 participants.