A whopping 223 artists are set to be recognized this weekend at the MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival. Not sure what booths to check out? Here’s one way to start: Several of last year’s winners will be back for another round. If you haven’t seen them before, here is your chance to see them now.
Matt Tumlinson
Art Style: Mixed Media
Booth: 412
From far away, this artwork looks like a painting from a canvas; but look closer, and you'll notice that last year's Best Emerging Artist winner used a controversial medium to build his work: spent pistol cases. The purpose? To give the audience a chance to contemplate the true meaning behind the work and find common ground in gray areas.
Tai Taeoalii
Art Style: Mixed Media
Booth: 527
Last year's People's Choice award winner returns with his unconventional art tool of choice: a ballpoint pen. His work is mostly black and white, with a pop of color, depicting avant-garde creatures. Read more about Tai Taeoalii in the April issue of Fort Worth Magazine.
Thomas Diel
Art Style: Mixed Media
Booth: 428
Diel makes art furniture out of, well, just about anything: aluminum, concrete, stainless steel, bronze, test tubes, wood, metal and the list goes on. This year will be his eighth year showing at MAIN ST. Arts Fest.
Nicario Jimenez
Art Style: Mixed Media
Booth: 418
Jimenez's signature work is retablos, intricately designed boxes with colorful figurines (ranging from people to animals), made from a doughy mixture of boiled potato and plaster.
Joachim Knill
Art Style: Painting
Booth: 419
Knill's collection, titled “National Treasure,” consists of colorful paintings of stuffed toy animals juxtaposed against harsh environments. While looking at the works may conjure up feelings of nostalgia, these paintings are supposed to make a statement on where our culture stands today.
Richard Wilson
Art Style: Drawing
Booth: 528
While Wilson's work may look simple, there is a story to be told with every piece of art — whether it be about optimism, wisdom, introspection or complexity. His inspiration comes from family and beautiful southern landscapes.
Marvin Blackmore
Art Style: Ceramic
Booth: 442
Last year's Best of Show award winner will be back with his hand-etched pottery collection — a set of works that takes time to perfect. The small pieces could take up to 130 hours minimum (the piece in the featured photo took 400 hours to create).
Matthew Hatala
Art Style: Wood
Booth: 308
Hatala is another artist that brings three-dimensional work to life, creating hollow, vase-esque objects out of wood. His work is covered with high gloss and has distinctive handle treatment.
Bob McNally
Art Style: Wood
Booth: 618
This isn't your typical guitar. McNally creates easy-to-play wooden instruments that create sounds other instruments wouldn't be able to replicate.