Portrait of a crowd favorite.
ARTFEST comes home to Fair Park from May 23-25, which means a celebration of visually stunning proportions. One of the top-rated juried fine art shows in the country, ARTFEST is in its 39th year of attracting artists from as far away as Israel and Seattle. This year it will be presented by Time-Warner Cable.
“Here’s a great place for artists in many mediums to get terrific exposure,” according to April Davis, Director of ARTFEST and Vice President of The 500 Inc., which puts on the event. “Not only can artists attract new customers, but showcase their latest works for current clients. Prices are very reasonable and the artists are required to be at their booths at all times.”
ARTFEST has been held in several other Dallas-area locations in recent years, but the art-friendly setting of Fair Park—which has often been a venue for the event—was too good to resist. “Fair Park is known for great art,” says Ms. Davis. “Its Art Deco buildings are treasures, there is a beautiful tree-lined lagoon, and landscaped nooks abound. Over the years, ARTFEST has been held near the Esplanade and other scenic spots. This year, our setting is a natural: along the Lagoon Walk and Cotton Bowl Plaza.”
From small beginnings to national prestige.
In 1969, ARTFEST started as a small Memorial Day Weekend event. When the rapidly-growing exhibition needed more space, Fair Park was an ideal choice for a festival because of its adequate walkways and facilities. “I feel that I was pre-destined to become involved with ARTFEST,” believes Ms. Davis. “In the 1970’s, my parents volunteered for ARTFEST before I was born. Then they took me to several when I was young.”
Besides Ms. Davis, hundreds of other volunteers with The 500 Inc. dedicate many hours to ARTFEST. The event is a fundraiser…unusual for an arts festival since most similar events are put on by cities and communities. To date, ARTFEST has raised over $12 million, with proceeds assisting numerous musical, dramatic, visual and other arts organizations. Past beneficiaries include Dallas Chamber Music Society, USA Film Festival, Shakespeare Dallas and Dallas Center for Contemporary Art.
Real finds of many materials.
Kids will love “Box City” in the Children’s area. “Each child gets to create a building and help design a little city,” states Ms. Davis. “There are lots of other hands-on crafts in store.” In addition to Saturday and Sunday events, ARTFEST visitors can toast the weekend with a very special “Wine Stroll” on Friday evening. It includes a preview of the art offered, a "meet and greet" with the artists, a weekend pass to ARTFEST, complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres.
Make ARTFEST and Fair Park your Memorial Day Weekend destination and you might even take home a masterpiece! For more information, visit the ARTFEST website.
