The Piedmont Park Arts Festival, organized by the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces, returned to Atlanta for its eighth consecutive year over the weekend of August 13 and 14. Featuring over 250 painters, photographers, sculptors, glass blowers, jewelers and crafters, the annual event raises funds to benefit local charities and scholarships for the arts.
In addition to the hundreds of vendor tents where visitors could view and purchase art pieces, the festival included live artist demonstrations, acoustic music, food, games, and even a children’s play area.
“It definitely has something for everyone,” said Laura Ferguson, a local mother and festival attendee. “My husband and I love looking at all the art. My kids have a ball playing and eating the goodies that this festival offers.”
The festival began as a creative event made up of entirely local artists, but it quickly grew to include a network of artists from all over the country. Artists across the United States have flocked to the festival to broaden their fan-base and experience Atlanta’s thriving and enthusiastic art buying community.
Sam and Jeannie Maddox, a husband-and-wife artistic duo based out of Alabama, have found great success in Atlanta’s art festivals.
“We’ve been at [the Piedmont Park Arts Festival] about six times and we always have a really nice experience,” Sam Maddox said. “After selling to so many people in Alabama and places near Panama City and Destin, we wanted to come do a show up here. We’ve been coming back ever since.”
The pair’s larger-than-life paintings have been acquired by collectors from Japan, Italy, Holland, Venezuela, Switzerland, and throughout the United States. Their appearances at the festival over the past few years have allowed their work to make an impact on Atlanta residents and reach Atlanta’s crowd of art enthusiasts.
Melanie Rolfes, part of the collaborative painting duo Zavison Rolfes, also had a booth at this year’s art festival.
“My inspiration comes mainly from colors and the way colors make you feel,” Rolfes said. “The reactions and feelings colors can give to other people and how I can put that on a canvas are where I start on each painting.”
The festival featured a wide diversity of artists, bringing a spectrum of artwork that ranged from abstract paintings to cigarette box guitars.
“Art festivals aren’t just good for art,” Doug Milling, a Midtown resident and festival-goer, said. “I just tasted some of the best cheese of my life. Who would’ve thought that it was from a festival in a park?”
Artisan cheeses, local honey, and tasty sauces were just a few of the many delicacies offered throughout the park.
The eighth Piedmont Park Arts Festival brimmed with an extended variety of artwork and a passionate artistic community.
“One of the best years this festival has seen, in my opinion,” Leila Maxwell, a local mother, said. “The variety of art was incredible, and me and my kids had a great time.”