NORTHPORT, Ala. — For some, it is pilgrimage. For others, it is curiosity. But for two local artisans, it is something else entirely — part homecoming, part family reunion, encompassed in a two-day rainbow of color nestled in a place early settlers dubbed paradise.
The Kentuck Festival of the Arts is celebrating its 40th year in Northport, Ala., this weekend, but the more things change, the more they remain the same.
Ma’Cille House will not stand beneath the shade trees of Kentuck Park, serving sausage and biscuits from wood-fired ovens. Kathryn Tucker Windham will not stand in the dappled afternoon light, holding audiences enthralled with her soft Southern accent.
House passed away more than a decade ago; Windham died in June.
But even as old festival favorites pass into legend, storied stalwarts remain, including Columbus artist Elayne Goodman and West Point basket weaver Bessie Johnson, both of whom have been showing their work there for nearly three decades.
They’ve seen the festival grow from a small-town celebration to a cultural mecca which draws big-name artisans, high-profile gallery owners and conservative estimates of between 12,000 and 15,000 art lovers every year.
The festival, which began as a nod to Northport’s history, has become history itself, as woven into the city’s tapestry as the threads which make up the iconic Kentuck quilt. It is laid-back and high-brow. It is quietly refined and off-kilter eclectic.
Over the years, it’s grown harder for artists to break into the Kentuck scene, making it a point of pride for people like Goodman and Johnson, who consistently make it through the competitive, juried selection.
The show is legendary for its quality, and regulars are expected to maintain the caliber of their work, says Goodman, a mixed media artist known for transforming recycled materials into highly-sought collectibles.
For her, it is a chance to connect with fans and friends while making contacts with gallery owners across the country, and she’s always careful to save her “best” for Kentuck.
After her July showing at Rosenzweig Arts Center, Goodman’s inventory is a little light for a good reason: She sold a lot of the pieces she expected to take with her. Still, she says, she will bring a wide variety of work, and she’s looking forward to both the music and the camaraderie.
Networking with other artists, being exposed to emerging styles and having the opportunity to rub shoulders with the creme de la creme of the art world is part of what brings Johnson to the festival each year, but it’s also the irresistible draw of bettering herself, always pushing to create something intriguing and new.
Over the past few weeks, she’s been putting the final touches on what she calls her “show stopper”: One of her traditional pine needle baskets, decorated with pine cones.
“I always try to do something unusual that I’ve not done before to try to win some of the award money,” Johnson says, laughing. “It’s got to be unusual, not just common like everybody else is doing.”
The festival itself is an award winner. It ranks among the Southeastern Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events and was named one of the top 10 art fairs and festivals in the country by American Style magazine. It is also what some say put Northport on the map, helping it earn a spot as one of the 100 best small art towns in America.
There will be more than 250 nationally-recognized artists and craftsmen sprinkled throughout the park, showcasing their talents. There will be furniture makers, quilters, blacksmiths, potters, painters and photographers.
There will also be live music on two stages, with styles ranging from blues to bluegrass, gospel to folk to alternative rock.
Children’s activities are always a big draw as well, and old favorites return, like the Musical Petting Zoo, which allows youth to “make friends” with musical instruments, and the cornshuck doll workshop, where children get the opportunity to learn a rural Southern craft and make a keepsake to take home.
The festival will be held Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Two-day passes are $15, and one-day passes are $10. Children under 12 are admitted for free.
For a full schedule of events, visit www.kentuck.org/festival.html.
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
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