|
Everything’s big in Texas, even the paintings
Published May 26, 2009
The name, “A Little Dab of Texas,” may be a misnomer.
In fact, one of the main attractions at the 38th annual Texas Arts and Crafts Fair was anything but little.
“This painting is a actually a Guiness Book of World Records holder for most painters on one painting,” said Penni Carr, executive director of the fair.
The 48-foot-by-eight-foot painting, depicting a traditionally western scene, contained brush strokes from 25,297 artists. Fair goers who stopped and starred in the River Star Arts and Entertainment Park exhibit hall, could be heard commenting on how “beautiful” and “intricate” the piece was.
But with more than 150 other artists and craftsmen at the fair, the painting was only a small part of the three-day art expo, which brought in more than 15,000 visitors from across the state.
Exhibitors brought a broad array of work. The fair featured 15 categories, including photography, painting, sculpture, leatherwork, metal craft and more. Carr said a jury of art experts selects exhibitors to appear at the fair and hands out awards based on the quality of their artistry.
Casey Wright took home the Best of Category award in sculpture for her work, “Jump Start.” The metal cast abstract piece, shows a human heart hooked up to jumper cabels mounted on a piece of rock.
“I became very interested in the human form and how it could be abstracted,” said Wright when explaining her work.
Wright, a senior art student at the Baylor University, was awarded scholarship money at the fair as part of the Emerging Texas Artist Scholarship program. So did another one of her Baylor classmates, Jessica Hollis, who took home the top prize in photography for a series of photos depicting normal people in their daily jobs.
“I fell in love with photography after taking one class,” Hollis said. “And I love to use it as a way to document people in their daily lives.”
New works like these were a treat for many of the attendees have been going to fair for years.
“We’ve been coming here for about 15 years now,” said Bob Hoffman, who came from Harper with his wife Cynthia to see the fair. “I feel like every year there is something new and different. They really mix it up and bring in new blood.”
Other fairgoers viewed the event as a chance to break from the norm on Memorial Day weekend.
“I’m a vegetarian and so I don’t do barbecue,” said Stacey Keeler, of Fredericksburg. “I mean, what else is a hippie vegetarian like me to do with a three day weekend?”
Share |
Save |
Mail |
Print |
Comment
|
|
|
 |
|
Photo Reprints
Get Daily Times photos from the latest games and scenic locales.
Special Sections
Visitor's Guide
Real Estate Guide
Hill Country Life
Medical Directory
Home Directory
|
