Webb Art & Craft festival nears

There will be no shortage of things to see and do in Bell Buckle in two weeks as the 31th Annual Webb School Arts and Crafts Festvial returns Oct. 20-21. This photo from last year's event will give you an idea of what to expect. (T-G file photo by Brian Mosely) [Click to enlarge]

If arts and crafts are your passion, then the streets of the Webb School and Bell Buckle should be your destination in two weeks.

The 31st Annual Webb School Arts and Crafts Festival takes place from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20 and from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 21.

Over 100 juried artists and exhibitors will be on hand for the massive event which organizer Shirley Johns says draws twice the crowd that the Moon Pie Festival attracts in June.

"About 80,000 to 100,000 people come every year," Johns noted. "The Moon Pie Festival brings in 30,000 to 40,000."

The juried show on the campus will feature photography, clay, wood, metal, iron works, jewelry, paintings baskets, glass and fiber works, plus an exhibitor's tent, where examples of all the juried art at the show can be seen.

But aside from the juried show of around 150 booths on the campus, there are also over 500 additional non-juried spots that will be located throughout Bell Buckle. Residents who are not hosting artists in their yards will likely be renting out space for parking.

"Every yard is taken up with one thing or the other," Johns said of the two-day event. Maple Street will be totally shut down to vehicles and the Bedford County Rescue Squad will be providing security.

Among the juried items to be displayed are life sized metal sculptures from artists Susan Beaman and Allen Tate. Jim Wright has fascinating pieces that are hand crafted from wood. Mik Wright does interesting things with shoes and leatherwear and unique jewelry made from old typewriter keys will be available from Carolyn and Tom Aylward.

Also to be featured are dulcimers made by Bill Rich, artwork actually painted onto turkey feathers by Tina Ganterbein, paintings by Todd Reed and artist Gerald Wayne Sanders returns with his pieces that are made from wire.

Other items of interest will be a horse drawn carriage, an around-the-world food court and live entertainment.

Johns said only 30 to 35 artists participated in the first show on the campus, organized by Anne White-Scruggs, who ran it for over 20 years.

This year's show is already booked solid and Johns said she is already preparing for the next event.