The 53rd Fayette Arts Festival will take place on Saturday, Sept. 9 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Fayette Civic Center/Art Museum located at 530 Temple Avenue North in Fayette. It is the perfect indoor and outdoor setting to have the arts festival come rain or shine. The Fayette Arts Festival is the longest-running festival in the state of Alabama and attracts many artists and visitors from the entire southeast.
The festival is a juried arts and crafts show with cash awards that feature fine art, folk art and craft categories. The festival is an opportunity for artists and craftsmen/women to exhibit and sell their work just as it was when it first started over 50 years ago. Many of the old favorites are returning to this year’s festival, such as Fayette’s own Karen Thompson with her folk art on ornaments, magnets, painted wood and canvas pieces who has been with us for over 20 years; the famous SHE-SHE from Birmingham with her unique whimsical folk art; Donna Stewart from Stewart Farms with her painted wood and gourd crafts, ornaments and cottage certified baked goods; Ron Morris with his ceramic pottery and paintings; husband and wife duo, Jim and Carol Waldrop with their beautiful vintage silverware jewelry and wind chimes; Lindsey Porter with her ‘door candy’ and unique hand painted items; Michael Shepherd with his original paintings and prints; Avery Dove with his unique paintings, crafts and tables; Emily Tittle with her handmade freshies in every scent and design; Trae Anderson with his beautifully hand-crafted fishing lures; and Wayne Brendel with his beautiful photos and photo notecards, just to name a few talented artists from the past that are returning to celebrate with us. There are many more that you’ll recognize from years past that have been faithful to the Fayette Arts Festival.
New to this year are Tammy and Larry Ross, father/daughter duo with his beautiful wood furniture and décor along with her handmade home and holiday décor; Mr. Jeffie Lawrence with his tiny houses; Kayla Rollins with her seasonal décor, ornaments and face painting; Reid Hollingsworth with her beautiful watercolor pieces; Austyn Freeman with her oil and acrylic canvases and Beth Morris with her freeze dried candies. These are just a few of our new artists. There will be so much more to please all types of observers, collectors and buyers. The prize money and awards will be presented to several of these talented people around noon in the North Dining Room.
Food vendors promise everything from fried fish, BBQ, hot dogs to flavored lemonades, shaved ice and kettle corn, just to name a few. Plan to come down to the Civic Center/Art Museum to have lunch and a special snack at the arts festival.
Through the generosity and support of local merchants, Fayette Art Museum and Bevill State Community College, the Fayette Arts Festival will once again include Kid’s Place, a tent where children are given the opportunity of an art experience with the assistance of the Bevill State ambassadors and Maegan Halper. Kid’s Place will have the tie-dye t-shirt project that all children enjoy doing with the Bevill ambassadors and Halper. Kid’s Place activities are free and available for children up to 12 years old sponsored by several of our local businesses. With weather permitting, it will be outside by the food vendors under the tents.
To show appreciation for everyone coming to the arts festival you will be treated as a Fayette Arts Festival patron. As you come in the front door that Saturday morning, you will be given a ballot to get to vote for your favorite artist or craftsman for the Patron’s Choice award. The ballots will only be given out until 11:30 and need to be turned back in at the registration table. The Patron’s Choice winner will be given a cash award along with the other awards around noon.
There is no charge for the arts festival. It is a great time to come start that Christmas shopping all the while seeing some of the museum’s permanent collection throughout the building.
As Mr. Black, founder and director for over 35 years, once said about the museum, “It is Fayette’s best kept secret.”
For any information about the Festival call the museum at 205-932-8727 or email them at fayetteartmuseum@
yahoo.com.
See complete story in the Journal Record.
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