Festival’s 21st Year Showcases National and International Artists

20 Jan 2006

by: Laura Squires

Ranked as Texas’ No. 1 arts festival in 2005, Fort Worth rolls up its sleeves for another successful year.

FORT WORTH, Texas (Jan. 13, 2006) – With the success of last year’s MAIN ST. Arts Festival, Fort Worth gears up once again in anticipation for the city’s annual weekend art celebration beginning Thursday, April 20. MAIN ST. shattered previous attendance records and generated sales of close to $7 million worth of art.

“MAIN ST. was a success in 2005 and we look forward to another great turnout this April,” said Carlos De La Torre, chairman of the Festivals and Events Committee of the producing organization, Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc.

This year’s festival showcases 200 national and international juried artists, over 300 live performances, culinary offerings and after-hours fun for people of all ages.

Among some of the artists to look out for is Fort Worth’s own Gregory Story. “I’m excited about doing MAIN ST.,” said Story. “The constant and close interaction with collectors and art lovers pushes me like a gallery relationship never could.”

Story, who specializes in ceramics and oil paintings, first showed at MAIN ST. in 1991. Just out of college, Story said he didn’t have money to invest in a booth, but managed to pull it off. However, his first time did not go the way he had expected.

“I got blown away by a storm and lost many originals before it was all over,” Story said. After swearing to never participate again, Story finds himself on the brick-laden street 15 years later. “My work is developing and changing much faster than it used to…I think I’ll be putting on a much better show this time.”

In addition to ceramics, the festival displays a variety of art including paintings, photography, woodcarvings, glassworks, jewelry and multimedia compositions.

Over 1,100 artists were reviewed for the 2006 festival, including six from Trier, Germany and 25 of last year’s winners who automatically qualify to show in 2006. “Close to $7 million worth of art is sold during the festival and this year’s displays should prove as successful,” said John C. “Jay” Downie, festival director.

MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival is produced by Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc., and is presented by Coors Light. Stretching nine blocks from the Tarrant County Courthouse to the Fort Worth Convention Center, organizers for the festival expect to entertain thousands of spectators. The festival will run from Thursday, April 20 to Sunday, April 23.

For more information regarding the event, visit www.mainstreetartsfest.org.