223 OF THE NATION’S FINEST ARTISTS EXHIBITING AT 2019 MAIN ST. FORT WORTH ARTS FESTIVAL IN DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH

by mainst_admin

Only 1 in 7 artists who applied were accepted to showcase their work at this year’s event

FORT WORTH, Texas (March XX, 2019) – The 34th annual MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts festival will bring 223 of the nation’s finest artists from across the U.S. to Downtown Fort Worth on April 11-14. An estimated $4 million worth of art is expected to be sold during the four-day event, which also features live music from a variety of genres, authentic local cuisine, and interactive arts-and-crafts activities for the entire family

Ranked as the #3 fine arts event in the U.S., MAIN ST. represents a diverse blend of artists and mediums, ranging from sculpture to painting to leatherwork. As a juried arts festival, MAIN ST. practices a thorough selection process, prioritizing quality of workmanship, originality and artistic concept. Out of the 1,300 artists that applied, only 223 were selected to exhibit their work at this year’s event.

Awards totaling up to $10,500 are given to artists every year, including one “Best of Show” winner, one “Best Emerging Artist” winner, six “Merit Award” winners, and 24 “Juror Award” winners. Once the awards are announced, festivalgoers and fans have the chance to elect MAIN ST.’s “People’s Choice Award” by voting for their favorite award-winning artist on Facebook.

Award winners from 2018 returning in 2019 include “Best of Show” winner, Richard Wilson, from Greenville, North Carolina, and “Emerging Best of Show” winner, Darrell Dulaney, from Arlington, Texas. Wilson is known for creating figurative, southern landscapes that are nostalgic and expressive of human connections found through family. He and his drawings can be found in booth 528 at this year’s event. Dulaney is recognized for creating forms of art out of paper through eye-catching “paper illustrations.” He and his cardboard sculptures can be found in booth 433. Other 2018 award-winning artists returning in 2019 include:

Merit Award Winners:

  • Sally Craig (Amherst, Massachusetts) – Jewelry – Booth 413
  • Adam Crowell (Bonneau, South Carolina) – Wood – Booth 449
  • Clifton Henri (Chicago, Illinois) – Photography – Booth 408
  • William Kidd (Lakeland, Florida) – Ceramics – Booth 306
  • Karen Libecap (Birmingham, Alabama) – Painting – Booth 613
  • Gena Ollendieck (Cresco, Iowa) – Leather – Booth 412

Juror Award Winners:

  • Kathrine Allen-Coleman (Jackson, Georgia) – Printmaking – Booth 519
  • William Armstrong (Richmond, Virginia) – Drawing – Booth 615
  • Marvin Blackmore (Durango, Colorado) – Ceramics – Booth 434
  • Don & Serena David (Palm Coast, Florida) – Jewelry – Booth 407
  • Thomas Diel (Fort Worth, Texas) – Mixed Media – Booth 428
  • Thomas Dumke (Oconomowoc, Wisconsin) – Wood – Booth 518
  • Dolan Geiman (Englewood, Colorado) – Mixed Media – Booth 514
  • Matthew Hatala (Danielsville, Georgia) – Wood – Booth 308
  • Matthew Hemminghaus (Vandalia, Missouri) – Photography – Booth 516
  • Robin Kittleson (Geneva, Illinois) – Glass – Booth 506
  • Ryan Kvande (Thornton, Colorado) – Sculpture – Booth 319
  • Robin Lauersdorf (Monona, Wisconsin) – Drawing – Booth 614
  • Amber Marshall (Spruce Pine, North Carolina) – Glass – Booth 510
  • Teresa Merriman (Westcliffe, Colorado) – Leather – Booth 520
  • Hetty & Norman Metzger (Cedar Park, Texas) – Fiber – Booth 604
  • Lou Michaels (Ocala, Florida) – Mixed Media – Booth 426
  • Steve Nowatzki (Minneapolis, Minnesota) – Printmaking – Booth 326
  • Erik Saulitis (Minneapolis, Minnesota) – Photography – Booth 811
  • Melissa Stiles (Portland, Oregon) – Jewelry – Booth 603
  • Pamela Summers (Fort Worth, Texas) – Ceramics – Booth 303
  • Taman VanScoy (Long Beach, California) – Painting – Booth 436
  • Samuel Yao (Ann Arbor, Michigan) – Fiber – Booth 617
  • Carl Zachmann (Fergus Falls, Minnesota) – Metalwork – Booth 701

In addition to the juried artists, MAIN ST.’s “Growing Young Artists” program, presented by Tarrant County College, is returning for its 11th year on Saturday, April 13, and Sunday, April 14. Approximately 200 young artists from the Fort Worth community will be exhibiting and selling their artwork at the Young People’s Art Fair, located at the north end of MAIN ST. in the “MAIN ST. Creates – Maker Zone!” area. These young artists sold more than $9,000 worth of art in 2018.

Festivalgoers can also expect the return of MAIN ST.’s expanded “Emerging Artist” section, sponsored by Frost, featuring 18 budding, new artists along 3rd and 4th Streets. This section is dedicated to artists based in Texas who have never juried into a large art show.

MAIN ST. is annually produced by Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc., and is free to the public. The official hashtag for 2019 is #MainSt2019. Festival hours for 2019 are:

  • Thursday, April 11, 2019: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
  • Friday, April 12, 2019: 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.
  • Saturday, April 13, 2019: 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.
  • Sunday, April 14, 2019: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

For more information, download the updated-and-free MAIN ST. iPhone or Android mobile app, or visit / follow MAIN ST. online at:

ABOUT MAIN ST. FORT WORTH ARTS FESTIVAL

The MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival is celebrating its 34th year in 2019. Official sponsors include Sundance Square, The University of Texas at Arlington, Tarrant County College, and Michelob Ultra. Media sponsors include the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and 360 West. Radio sponsors include 92.1 HANK FM (KTFW-FM) and 95.9 The Ranch (KFWR-FM). Supporting sponsors are Trinity Metro, Chloe Wine Collection, Frost Bank, Visit Fort Worth, Alcon Foundation, and the Music Performance Trust Fund. Hotel sponsors are Aloft Fort Worth Downtown, The Ashton Hotel, Courtyard Fort Worth Downtown/Blackstone, Sheraton Fort Worth Downtown Hotel, and TownePlace Suites Fort Worth Downtown. For more information, visit www.MainStreetArtsFest.org.

ABOUT DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH INITIATIVES, INC.

Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization formed in 1988 to complement the work of Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. by providing a funding pathway for charitable, educational and public-purpose activities, such as community festivals, affordable residential development, park improvements and management. Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc. produces the MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival each fall and Parade of Lights during the holidays. These events have an economic impact of more than $28 million annually and attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to Downtown Fort Worth each year. For more information, visit www.DFWI.org.

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