2013 KENTUCK Festival of the Arts

KENTUCK 2009

Kentuck Festival of the Arts has come and gone.

It was cold. It was muddy. Windy and long. Some things you just don't have any control over.
Yeah, like the weather.

Puddles and puddles of water. Thick mud that you usually won't find anywhere but across the state line in Mississippi. Trucks and trailers unable to move . . . forward or backwards. Port-o-potty's. Lord, I hate those things. Waiting in line for two hours to register and then being told that you'll have to wait another two hours. And let's not mention the fact that it was homecoming weekend for Alabama.

But . . . I still love the venue in spite of the misery each of us had to endure. It was worth it. Saw old friends; made new friends.

Kentuck is not Kentuck without Amos Kennedy. He was in rare form despite the cold weather. I was assigned to the same space as last year (B-34) which, believe me, is a BIG deal. UA Book Arts to my left and Peter Rose, Kathy Fetters and the one and only Glenn House, Sr., on my right. Couldn't have asked for better row mates.

I was introduced to Birney Imes, editor and publisher for The Commercial Dispatch (Columbus, MS). Birney is the author of JUKE JOINT. A book of color photographs taken of the black juke joints of the Mississippi Delta. Beautiful images.


Also, I had a chance to chat with Craig Patterson. THE HONORABLE Craig Patterson, Mayor of Gordo. Last time I saw him, he and I were dancing to the beat of a local blues band in the middle of Main Street. Fun! Always happy to see fellow artist Julian H. I love that he always travels with an entourage! Julian makes me smile. Kudos to the SLOSS crew. I have a lot of respect for them.

One of my most interesting conversations was with C. Morgan the grandson of Charles Morgan, Jr., a civil rights lawyer who passed away in January of this year. Mr. Morgan was an individual who first came to public attention because of a speech that got him run out of his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. He spoke against the politicians who catered to racism. Charles Morgan, Jr. published a book: A TIME TO SPEAK. I haven't read it, but I will.

Let's face it folks. The times, they are a changing.

To my patrons and to all who stopped by to say "hello" thank you for your support! And, as always, a special thanks to Tom for all that you do, so patiently.

Gordo, Alabama

Last year in October, I participated in The Kentuck Festival of the Arts located in Northport, Alabama. I was stunned when I received notice that my work had been juried in, on my first attempt! My space was B-34. Little did I know that the space had been occupied by Glenn House, Sr. for many years. Turns out that he gave up the spot last year and it became available (for me). I set up my booth and display, with Tom's help, and settled in for a three day run. Students from the University of Alabama's Publications/Book Arts Program were to the right of my tent and on the other side was Peter Rose, an Australian born potter who lives and creates in Knoxville, Tennessee. Glenn House, Sr. and his wife, Kathleen Fetters, an award winning photographer were situated next to Peter. Add to the mix, Amos Kennedy, an internationally recognized letterpress printer and (as my son would say) "it was on." I felt as tho I had known these artists all of my life! On the last day of Kentuck 2008, Glenn extended an invitation to me and Tom to visit Gordo where he, Kathy and Amos have set up shop. I took him up on his offer and two weeks ago, on February 15th, we drove to Gordo, Alabama.

The afternoon was WON-DER-FUL!! To be in the company of such gifted and talented and FUNNY individuals has changed me and my way of thinking. First and foremost, I realize that I MUST spend more time around creative people. Secondly, I'm learning that you can't take yourself too seriously. Laugh out loud, life is short. Lastly, although I don't consider myself an intellectual or a philosopher by any stretch of the imagination, I accept that I can and I do have a lot to say and even more to offer with regard to my printmaking: what I create and why.

Gordo, Alabama is probably best known for it's Mule Day/Chickenfest which is held on the first Saturday in June. Oh, and they create a lovely mule manure paper, too! Gordo is located in Pickins County on U. S. Route 82 west of Tuscaloosa and east of the Mississippi line. It is what it is. A non-descript, small dusty rural town with Main Street running across the bumpy rail tracks simply leading you to the other side. The other side you ask? Yes, the other side of the tracks. That's it. No more; no less. The walking tour was slow and leisurely. Into one building and out; on to another. The museum of Glenn's mother, Ma'Cille, is called Ma'Cille's Museum of Miscellanea. You name it and you'll find almost everything southern as a part of this wonderful collection. Oh, the eye candy! My goodness! Behind each door was art and more art, letterpress equipment, paper, inks, hardware, antiques, junk, bottles, chipboard posters, dolls, jars of stuff and no telling what else. There was so much to take in. And the stories. Kathy and Glenn had stories galore and shared them effortlessly. Glenn's gallery is housed in an old NAPA Auto Parts store. Kathy is a co-owner of Gallery 121 on Main Street. She recently designed and printed a Chickenfest poster which she graciously autographed and presented to me.

We began and ended the tour in the building that houses Amos' Kennedy Prints. He's the real deal. Authentic. When I learned that he once worked in mainstream corporate America, I wondered if he became "authentic" after he left to follow his bliss or if, in fact, he had been "authentic" all along and realized that corporate America and all of the bullshit that comes with it was simply not a good fit for him. Doesn't matter. I'm that much closer to becoming "authentic", too. This is a good thing.

I spent the last couple of hours, of my day in Gordo, sharing lino block proofs that I've created as part of my GIA grant. I was in my element talking about my project: WALK IN THE DIRECTION YOU' GOIN' IN. I talked, they listened. I stepped back and shut my mouth. I wanted to hear what they had to say about my work for better or for worse.

I left Gordo with a broad grin on my face. A VERY broad grin.

KENTUCK Festival of the Arts

I spoke with the Executive Director of KENTUCK today and was informed that I have been accepted to participate in KENTUCK. The KENTUCK Festival is the mother of all juried art festivals (in my mind)!

I have lived and breathed KENTUCK since I arrived in Alabama ten years ago. It is the south and all things southern. The art, the food, the music. Everything about it speaks to me. I haven't missed a festival since 1997.

So much to do; so little time.
Hope to see 'yall there.
Bring a smile and good weather!

Art Festival Schedule Update

Those of you who have looked at my web site have discovered that my art festival schedule for this season is not posted. Don't ask why. Here is my schedule for the next few months:

August 6 - September 13th
NEEDLEPOINT - "A Point to Remember"
Birmingham Public Library, 4th Floor Gallery

August 4 - September 3rd
Hoover Public Library
Bluff Park Art Show Preview

September 5 - 6th
ArtWalk
I'll be located at Brantley Engineering 2401 2nd Avenue North.

September 7th
Montgomery Art Guild Regions Bank Show
Opening reception 12 Noon-3pm

October 4th
Bluff Park Art Show
Always the First Saturday of October!

October 18 - 19th Kentuck Festival of the Arts***
I am on the official "wait" list having made the cut for my category.
Still waiting to be contacted for participation.

November 7th - December 19th
Cobb Lane Art Gallery
Opening reception November 7th, 5-8pm

December 5 - 7th / Linoleum Block Printing Class
Alabama Folk School at Camp McDowell, Nauvoo


That's it for now. Keep checking my blog for updates.

I'm Not the Best Blogger

Okay, I'll admit it. I'm not the best blogger in the world.

Oh, there are a-hundred-and-one things that I'd love to share with you about my artistic endeavors but I find that I'm having a difficult time working 9 to 5 everyday . . . sitting at a computer. . . and then coming home and spending more hours at a keyboard and monitor. arrrrgh! How do you do it and keep your sanity??! I'm always struggling with the decision to either cut a lino block, needlepoint, or spend more time on the computer.

My daughter has this blogging thing down to a science. She's so blogging savvy I wonder sometimes if I'm really her mama! If given the opportunity, I'm sure that she'd love to tell me to figure it out on my own. Ha! But she's held her tongue and has patiently tolerated me and my questions. And my boy is just as tech savvy. He's fearless when it comes to clicking around the internet universe. I love his confidence.

Okay, here's the update of my so called (artist) life. My Relief Printing Workshop which I was scheduled to teach this weekend July 18-20th at the Alabama Folk School, Camp McDowell, Nauvoo, Alabama was canceled. As a matter of fact, all of the classes which had been scheduled for the weekend were canceled. Don't know why. The Folk School camp director sent out an email blast to all of us apologizing for the inconvenience of sending a late notice and that was that. Needless to say, I was VERY disappointed. Moving on.

I was asked if I might be interested in participating in the Bluff Park Preview Show at Hoover Public Library. Of course, I said yes. The Preview show will hang in the art gallery throughout the month of August. I was juried in (3 of 3), again, this year for the 45th Annual Bluff Park Art Show. This is a one day juried art show featuring 120 artist from throughout the U.S. Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 1, 2008. Prior to the Bluff Park Art Show I will participate in the 7th Annual Juried ArtWalk 2008 in Downtown Birmingham, Friday, September 5th: 5-10pm and Saturday, September 6th: Noon-6pm. This year I actually submitted an application for KENTUCK. I live and breath Kentuck and to be included as an exhibitor is a big deal for me. I have received notification that I'm on a "wait list" in my category (Printmaking). While I would have been thrilled to have received an acceptance letter giving me a booth number and location, I'm honored that I've made the cut on my first attempt. This is encouraging news. If an artist should drop out for whatever reason. . . that will open a door for me to show my work. Okay, I wouldn't wish bad on anyone, but hey . . . !

I'll be in Northport as an exhibitor or not.
The festival will take place on Saturday, October 18: 9-5pm and Sunday, October 19: 9-5pm.
See you there!