Published: April 04, 2009 11:29 pm      

Arts festival draws a big crowd

Children ran happily around with painted faces, dogs pulled at their leashes in a panic to greet one another, and Meridian High School music students meandered along while lazily harmonizing to "I'm Just a Bill."

With those scenes as hundreds gathered, downtown Meridian came alive Saturday when the Threefoot Arts Festival and Arts in the Park combined to form a super event dubbed the Threefoot Festival.

The Anderson Cup Road Race, the Jimmie Rodgers Talent Competition, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation walk were just part of the festivities held downtown on 6th and 7th Streets Saturday.

Festival patrons didn't go hungry as the Meridian Museum of Art held a barbeque, the Meridian Little Theatre sold corn dogs, chili connoisseurs competed in the Threefoot Chili Cook-Off, and food vendors sold everything from sno-cones to sandwiches.

Since the Threefoot Arts Festival featured a regional art contest and Arts in the Park featured art and craft vendors, there was double the art when the two festivals combined. And the crowds were bigger, too.

Some of the more interesting art included the Icons on Bob Shaffer, from Louisiana. In Shaffer's shadowbox icons, classical images of Jesus were surrounded by glass alligators and bottle caps. Shaffer also displayed a large alligator sculpture encased completely in bottle caps, and many pieces painted on bits of tin and bearing the legend "Be Nice or Leave."

Laurel artist Mandy Buchanan also presented paintings on tin. Her beautifully intricate, earthy designs were painted onto things like film canisters from old drive-in theaters. Buchanan described in the layering process in which she created her pieces, saying, "Really honestly, these are doodles... It's just like drawing in church or something."

Buchanan said she has been to the Threefoot Arts Festival and Arts in the Park before, and said of the Threefoot Festival, "I just thought I'd give it a try... I just thought it sounds like a good idea."

Potter Jan Carter of Gore Springs has been attending Arts in the Park since it was held at Highland Park years ago. "I've just kind of followed it around over the years," he said.

Carter brought a stunning display of colorful Raku pottery. Raku is a method of firing pottery, and Raku pottery often has a unique finish that looks as if images of the aurora borealis have been burned into the clay.

Painter Ray Fielder, and his wife, potter Helen Fielder, from Booneville, also brought some beautiful work to the festival.

Mr. Fielder paints striking country landscapes with an impressionistic feel, dominated by the bright blue tones of the sky. "I love to landscape and also the sky, what happens in the sky," he said. "I want to keep the colors soft and beautiful."

Mrs. Fielder brought highly detailed pottery pieces. Most of her pieces were in pastel earthy tones and bore fossil-like designs, many of which were topped with small geodes.

Mr. Fielder said he and his wife rarely show their work in their home state, but that after being asked to participate in the Threefoot festival, "we thought it would be nice to do something in Mississippi for a change."

Other types of art for sale at the Threefoot Festival included wooden bowls, gourds, jewelry, baskets, and more.

The festival was an especial hit with children, who enjoyed a hands-on children's area with a regional American theme. At the Northeast booth, for example, kids made their own "pop art," and at the South booth, they made art in the style of Walter Anderson.

Other activities at the festival included storytelling by Tall Tales and Recollections Storytellers of Meridian, Threefoot Bloody Mary's, and entertainment on the Threefoot festival stage. Immediately following the festival, the Jimmie Rodgers foundation continued in the downtown artistic spirit by presenting a gospel concert at the Temple Theater.

The Threefoot Festival was sponsored by the Meridian Council for the Arts, the City of Meridian, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Mississippi Arts Commission, and commercial sponsors.