Try an Art Show for Sustainable Recreation!

October 6, 2009

Beautiful weather blessed Alabama this past Saturday, just in time for our annual fall festivities to begin. Art shows, music festivals and family events take place practically every weekend in North Central Alabama during the month of October. It is my favorite time of year in the south. (Until spring, and then THAT will be my favorite time of year.)

Saturday my daughter, Rachel, a friend, Laura and I made the annual pilgrimage to the Bluff Park art show. This art show has been going on for 46 years, and I have attended probably 25 of them. Boasting artists from all over the southeast, generally beautiful weather, local school bands and premium southern bar-b-que, it is a perfect family outing. I like this show because it’s usually a very good show for the artists. People are walking the show, looking and actually BUYING art! I enjoy seeing people toting large canvases and small sculptures. Love of the visual arts abounds here, and people support it with their dollars. I love this!

Recycle metal jewelry from designers Daniel Grussing and Marie Desjardins

I had to walk the show a little more quickly than usual this year, due to an afternoon conflict; however, even at a fairly fast pace I noticed several artists who were using recycled or sustainable materials to produce their art. Probably this has been going on for a while, but with my newly heightened, eco-friendly super senses I guess I’m just more aware of it now than I have been in the past. From jewelry to sculpture to collages, evidence of reuse and recycle was abundant! One of my favorite finds was a beautiful, hand-woven cocoon made of bamboo. Bright red, it was classically simple and softly supple.The artist is Rita Winters, of Guntersville, AL, whom I tried desperately to meet. Luckily for her she had so much business that it was practically impossible to get in the booth. I had to wait through 3 other women just to try it on. It was beautiful, and although I (unfortunately) wasn’t buying this weekend, I have added it to my Santa wish list! Bamboo  was actually being used by many of the weavers this year. I had one artist tell me that she had played with it some in the past, but she was now able to find vendors more readily, also, her vendors were actually selling it in cones now, so there was enough material to work with to produce a larger piece. That’s progress folks!

Beautiful hand-woven Bamboo cocoon by artist Rita Winter

So, what turns an art show into sustainable recreation?

• Slowing down. Just the act of strolling through the park, in the fresh air, at a leisurely pace supports the idea of living a little more sustainably. Key words here – Slowing Down! I know art isn’t for everyone, but you can still get outside and breath deep. Forget the mall frenzy. If art isn’t your thing, take a walk or plant a flower.
• Artists more and more are incorporating recycled materials into their artwork. See what they’re doing, get inspired! Next time  you pass a piece of scrap metal on the ground pick it up!
• This particular art show has shuttles that run to the show. Parking is at a premium, so plenty of people carpool to get there! More people stuffed in less cars = less gas and oil!
• Surrounding neighborhoods are rife with garage sales on the day of the show. Talk about reuse! If art isn’t your thing, you’re bound to find some usable household goodies at the garage sales, and all within short distance of each other.

Want to find an outdoor art show or festival near you? Try FairsAndFestivals.net. They have a search that you can define by state, zip and type of event to find festivals near you! So look one up and step outside this fall. It’s sure to perk you up!

PS – If you’re going to be in Alabama the 3rd weekend of October, be sure not to miss the Kentuck Festival in Northport! It has the unbeatable combination of Folk Art and Music and was selected as one of the top ten art fairs and festivals in the US by AmericanStyle magazine!

Filed under: art,Inspiration,recycle,reuse,Uncategorized

Tags: Lifestyle, recycle, sustainable recreation