September 30th., 2007

 It is a beautiful day in Matthews, North Carolina.  This weekends precursor to the cooler Fall weather to come is the perfect setting for the Matthews Art Fest.  Lining the traffic circle at the end of Matthews Station Drive are white tents where artisans hope to sell their wares.  Each year Art Fest brings over 10,000 people to Matthews Station.  This year is likely to surpass previous years for total patrons.  There are certainly more patrons shopping and dining at the restaurants and businesses on Matthews Station .  Restaurateur Donnie Gaskin of Beantown Tavern is certainly happy for the influx of people.

I toured the various tents of Art Fest this year searching for a single piece of art to highlight in this article.  I gave equal consideration to all of the art forms represented with the only possible exception being photography.  Do not misunderstand, I do believe that photography is an art form, and can appreciate the work of the photographer.  However I have a very hard time giving equal kudos to someone with a trained eye as to someone with a trained hand.  In the end I selected an original oil painting to be my selection as Best in Show.  Click here to view my choice and the story behind it.

Once again this year featured a children's area.  I especially love this aspect of Art Fest because the children are the future of art.  By helping them garner an appreciation for art now, it insures that we will have a future of new Michelangelo's.  My hat is off to all the workers that volunteered for the children's area.

As a whole I think that this years Matthews Art Fest was a huge success.  There was a wonderful combination of artisans attending and as always I thoroughly enjoyed the family atmosphere that descends upon Matthews Station when Art Fest is in underway.

For more information about the town of Matthews or the Matthews Art Fest, please click here.