You want to know one of coolest things about living in Louisville, KY?
Other than the horses and the Kentucky Derby, some people may not know that Louisville also has one of the best, nationally acclaimed art shows in the country. Every year around the first week of October, the St. James Court Art Show comes to the city. It will run this year from September 30 to October 1st and 2nd and people are already gearing up for the event named the best outdoor art show in the nation for three years. (2003, 2004, and 2006, named by the trade journal Sunshine Artist)
Held in the historic Old Louisville District, with beautiful victorian houses and courtyard fountain as its backdrop, this festival boasts 750 juried artists (wow!) and a predicted 300,000 people in attendance. It contains art and fine crafts from artists all over North America and has a claim to fame known to local and regional fans in neighboring cities.
The St. James Art Show is produced by several neighborhood associations and it has grown and evolved since October 1957. What was orginally known as the Southern Exposition in the 1800's, was the first to display the first light bulb by Thomas Edison! It was started to help pay for repairs on the deteriorating neighborhood and picturesque fountain, but it ended up bringing people in the neighborhood together as well. The festival brings the St. James Gala, the art poster contest, it awards scholarships to deserving students and brings an abundance of visitors to the city for the weekend.
The art show will include wood work, glass work, jewelry, metal work, pottery, leather work, watercolor, oil paintings and other original art, along with a walking tour of the Conrad Caldwell House Museum. Conrad's Cafe' and catering will provide sandwiches and other food in front of the museum. Brown-Forman distillaries will have drink selections as well as a specialty drink for the occasion.
The 6 sections of the area will show the artist visions available to view and purchase straight from the artist's hands to the buyers. The most expensive items are located towards St. James Court, Belgravia Court, Magnolia and Hill Streets. The less expensive items geared toward consumers are around 1300 South Third Steet, South Fourth Street and the West End Baptist Church.
The festival is free and open to the public, rain or shine. You can take a bus to Central Park, walk the streets and see the sights from September 30, through October 1st.
Dawn Murrell, Craft Goddess
http://www.stjamescourtartshow.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/St-James-Court-Art-Show/311348686259
http://www.conradcaldwell.org/StJames_ArtShow.aspx
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