HAMILTON, Ala. - The 2010 Jerry Brown Arts Festival is slated for March 6-7 in the old Walmart building in Hamilton.
 
Now in its eighth year, 69 artists will be joining the festival’s namesake, renowned ninth-generation potter Jerry Brown. In 1992, Brown was named a National Heritage Fellow by the National Endowment for the Arts and served as Alabama’s Folk Artist of the Year for 2001.
“We are glad to once again be in the old Walmart building. This allows more space for all the artists,” said Northwest Alabama Arts Council public relations officer Marla Minter.
“We are also proud to note that for the second year in a row, the Jerry Brown Arts Festival has been selected by the prestigious Southeast Tourism Society as a Top 20 Event for March 2010,” Minter noted.
 
The Jerry Brown Arts Festival will be held on Saturday, March 6, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and on Sunday, March 7, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.  Admission to the Jerry Brown Arts Festival is free.
Selected as the 2010 JBAF Special Guest Artist is Charlie “The Tin Man” Lucas, a resident of Prattville, Ala, who is a master of forming, shaping, and welding metal into unique pieces of art.
 
The list of artists scheduled to appear at the 2010 edition of the Jerry Brown Arts Festival is as follows, along with their hometown and artform:
Jerry and Sandra Brown, Hamilton, Ala. - Pottery; Brian Bohanan, Helena, Ala. - Folk Art; Jinx Bentley, Odenville, Ala. - Paper Mache; Alisa Case, Birmingham, Ala. - Recycled Sculpture; Ray Dutton, Moulton, Ala. - Wood; Don and Louise Colson, Aberdeen, Miss. - Jewelry; Tom Henry, Philadelphia, Miss. - Whirligigs; Bobby Gaither, Remlap, Ala. - Pottery; Brian Greer, Falkville, Ala. - Jewelry; Joe and Sandy Galloway, Huntsville, Ala. - Fused Glass; Jerry Mclennan, New Albany, Miss. - Stained Glass; Mark Williams, Bogart, GA - Pottery; CNC Museum Quilt Guild, Winfield, Ala. - Quilting; Catherine Brown, Hamilton, Ala. - Jewelry and Fabric Art; Anne Moore, Hoover, Ala. - Jewelry; Ted Butler, Northport, Ala. - Carved Walking Stix; Teresa Wamble, Caler, Ala. - Gourd Art; Tim Pace, Finger, Tenn. - Metal Sculpture; Linda Lindale, Amory, Miss. - Textile Art and Copper; Marilyn Huey, Springville, Ala. - Baskets; Roger and Renea Poer, Sylvan Springs, Ala. - Handcrafted Jewelry; Julie Jackson, Tuscaloosa, Ala. - Handcrafted Jewelry; Joan Curtis, Birmingham, Ala. - Painting-Acrylic; Brookie Pulliam, Haleyville, Ala. - Oil-Fine Art; Carolyn Bevis, Haleyville, Ala. - Oil, Acrylic, Water Color; Mary Rogers, Union Grove, Ala. - Sterling Silver Wirework Jewelry; Denise Brown, Ashland, Miss. - Pottery/Clay; John and Debbie Lay, Smithville, Miss. - High Fire Pottery; Mary Jo Williams, Aberdeen, Miss. - Pottery; Jimmy Armstrong and Richie Stone, Smithville, Miss. - Ironwork; Clay Paradiso, Columbus, Ms - Photography; Heaven Mccaulley, Piedmont, Ala. - Wearable Fiber; Carl T. Porter, Fayette, Ala. - Mud Paintings; Hubbert and Pam Wigginton, Smithville, Miss. - Carved Wooden Bowls; Jim Weaver, Florence, Ala. - Painting; Louise Hewlett, Hoover, Ala. - Jewelry; Constance Beck, Adamsville, Ala. - Handspun and Woven Clothing; John and Peggy Berryhill, Hamilton, Ala. - Echota Indian Display; Patty Mcnutt, Haleyville, Ala. - Oil Painting; Craig and Tracy Wilson, Blue Springs, Miss. - Clay; David and Judy Coker, Lexington, Ala. - Wood Carving and Turning; Helene Fielder, Booneville, Ala. - Clay/Sculptural and Functional; Al and Jayne Vinsant, Sterrett, Ala. - 2D Mixed Media; Laura Stacy, Birmingham, Ala. - Batik (Fiver Art); Adam Snyder, Homewood, Ala. - Clay/Wheel-Thrown Porcelain; Alice Sherrod, Birmingham, Ala. - Copper Jewelry; Earl McBroom, Detroit, Ala. - Handmade Knives; Melda Turner, Ohatchee, Ala. - Copperwire Sculpture; John Turner and John Turner, Jr, Ohatchee, Ala. - Handwoven Baskets; Crossroads Arts Alliance, Gordo, Ala. - Photography, Mixed Media, Sculpture, Book Arts; Lisa Crews, Hickman, Ky. - Clay; Dee Casterline, Columbus, Miss. - Etched, Stained and Fused Glass, Candles/Oils; Maurice Cook, Birmingham, Ala. - Painting; Missy Miles, Hamilton, Ala. - Gourd Art; Robert Taylor, Birmingham, Ala. - Hammered Copper, Candlesticks; Alison Bohorfoush, Birmingham, Ala. - Hammered Copper and Silver Jewelry; Janice Hall and Pat Shields, Danielsville, Ga. - Pottery; James Brassfield, Hamilton, Ala. - Handmade Knives; Ron Morris, Fayette, Ala. - Pottery and Crayon Etchings; George Jones, Florence, Ala. - Broom Maker; T. Lowry Wilson, New Albany, Miss. - Photography Tatia Johnson, Memphis, Tenn. - Lampwork Glass Beads She-She, Birmingham, Ala. - Folk Painting Nathan and Adam Ivey, Haleyville, Ala., Quick-Sketch Drawings Wesley Abbott, Crane Hill, Ala. - Pottery Sam Cornman, Orange Beach, Ala., Glass Art; Mark Sanders, Newport, Tenn. - Blown Glass; and John Hogarth, Jackson, Ala. - Stained Glass.
 
For more information, interested persons may call Minter at 921-3632.  You may also visit the Jerry Brown Arts Festival’s official website at www.jbaf.org.
 

HAMILTON, ALA. – On Tuesday, November 24, Senator Roger Bedford, Alabama State Senate District 6, presented officials with the Northwest Alabama Arts Council a check for $1,000 in support of the 2009 Jerry Brown Arts Festival.

Shown in the photo are arts council vice-president Carrie Bolton, treasurer Ed Minter, Senator Bedford, president Tyna Pyburn, potter Jerry Brown for whom the festival is named, and secretary Missy Miles.

Bedford stated, “The great artistic work of Jerry Brown has put Northwest Alabama on the map.  We’ve become a destination for people who enjoy good American art.  I’m so proud of Jerry and what the local arts council has done.”    Proceeds from the annual Jerry Brown Arts Festival support the arts and art education in Marion County. 

Arts council president Tyna Pyburn responded, “We are extremely fortunate to have the support of Senator Bedford.  He has been an advocate for the Jerry Brown Arts Festival and the Northwest Alabama Arts Council since their inceptions.  We sincerely appreciate all he has done for us.”

The all-volunteer arts council is an IRS-approved nonprofit organization that works throughout the year in arts-related activities and events, with the Jerry Brown Arts Festival being the council’s largest event.  The 2010 Jerry Brown Arts Festival, which has been selected as a Top 20 event by the Southeast Tourism Society, is set for March 6 and 7 in Hamilton.

Applications for artists and food vendors are now available online at the festival website, www.jbaf.org.  Anyone who is interested in volunteering with the arts council or who is interested in joining the arts council can call (205) 921-9483.  For additional information on the Northwest Alabama Arts Council and its programs, visit the council’s official website, www.NorthwestAlabamaArts.org.

Cullman – Missy Miles was recognized Saturday night as the winner of the Eleventh Annual Alabama Gourd Show (AGS).   Miles participated in twenty categories, and received eleven first-place ribbons, two second-place ribbons, and three third-place ribbons.  Compilation of the total number of points per ribbon gave Miles the title of “Gourd Queen” for the second year in a row.

   Miles competed with 40 vendors from throughout the Southeast, including Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, and Kentucky, and the artists’ works were judged by officials from the American Gourd Society.  Miles stated, “I am so honored to have been selected to receive this title again this year.  The talent levels and competition levels were greatly improved.”  Responsibilities associated with winning the crown include encouraging the art and crafting and also the growing of gourds.  Although many people are not familiar with gourd art, it is a fast-growing medium in the art world. 

Many locals are familiar with one of Miles other passions – murals.  She recently completed her third mural in downtown Guin entitled “Freedom Eagle” which honors America and its veterans.  Her tribute gourd to the patriotic wall, “United We Stand” won first place in the carved-and-painted category at the AGS.  Miles stated that of all of the ribbons she received, that ribbon was the one she was the most proud of.

Even though the state gourd festival is now finished, Miles continues with her busy work pace.  She is in the planning stages for a mural in Berry and additional murals in Guin.  She will also be participating in the Buttahatchee River Fall Fest in Hamilton on October 31, where she will have many of her gourds on display and for sale.  Additionally at the BRFF, she will assist the Northwest Alabama Arts Council, where she serves as secretary, with their children’s art booth in the arts and crafts section, and will be working with the children to make their own miniature gourd necklaces, which will be at no charge.

Following the BRFF, Miles will be putting the final touches on her Organic Vessels Studio, located on Jimmy Brown Road west of Hamilton, for its grand opening on November 28. 

Additionally, Miles continues to help with art education through the programs of the Northwest Alabama Arts Council and Bevill State Community College – Hamilton Campus’ Continuing Education programs.  She is also a member of the Car Nut Quilt Guild in Winfield where she quilts as a “stress reliever.”

For additional information on gourd art or murals, please contact Miles at (205) 921-1193 or via her website, www.organicvessels.com.