Annual Foothills Folk Art Festival held in downtown Newton on Saturday, May 14
Saturday, downtown Newton was packed for the annual Foothills Folk Art Festival.
The collaboration between the Downtown Newton Development Association (DNDA) and the Hickory Museum of Art brought hundreds of people from surrounding counties and from different states to experience unique artwork. With a variety of 70 artists and multiple downtown businesses, there were many different opportunities to buy unique gifts.
While enjoying artwork, people were entertained by different bands all day.
Live music was performed by Moose & Friends, JB & Joe, Strictly Clean and Decent, Pan Jive, and Red Rocking Chair.
Also on hand were two beer gardens and a variety of food trucks with Duck Donuts, JK Cones, Kia Eggroll Truck, the Little Red Grill, Lobster Dog, Pooters Pop Kettle Corn, Rollin’ & Smokin’, Soul in a Bowl, Toastes Cuban, and Whiteners.
Kids and adults enjoyed over seven artist demonstrations and free crafts.
Artist John Morehead came from Lake Tillery, NC.
He makes fish sculptures from old musical instruments.
“I just saw a sculpture of a fish on a stand,” Morehead said.“I can do that.”
He had made furniture since he was a kid.
So, Morehead made a fish and his friends loved it.
“It’s always been fish— there are so many varieties.”
Charlie and Susan Frye are a husband and wife team from Lenoir. They were just one of many husband- wife teams.
He paints and she makes art from paper.
“I see myself as a folk keeper,” Charlie said. “She likes to make art on strong women.”
He likes to paint “any and everything.”
“What I see with my eyes or my head, I paint,” Charlie said.
There were many local artists also.
Newton- Conover teacher Mary Glenn brought unique clothing and jewelry, the Groovy Girl Art Studio from Mountain View showcased pottery, and Tracy Sherrill from Hickory had ecodyed art.
Dwayne Lane turns wood pieces into unique art pieces.
“Every piece is different,” he shared.
Lots of artists used wood, clay, and glass to make their art.
Birdhouses, jewelry, yard art, photography, and paintings were just a few things offered.
Even with the different art, all the artists seemed to have one thing in common- enjoyment in what they do.
Terrell Miller, from Granite Falls, is retired now He enjoys painting and woodworking.
“I just do this for fun,” he said.