Looking for something to do on Labor Day weekend? Follow Your Art on tap in Mentone

Greg Bailey, The Gadsden Times
·2 min read
A sidewalk art contest will be a highlight of the Little River Arts Council's second Follow Your Art event Sept. 3 in Mentone.
A sidewalk art contest will be a highlight of the Little River Arts Council's second Follow Your Art event Sept. 3 in Mentone.

The Little River Arts Council is hosting its second Follow Your Art event on Sept. 3 in Mentone.

A news release from the council describes it as a “free one-day art, music and storytelling event.”

It will be set up along the Mentone Educational Resources Foundation’s community walking trail on Alabama Highway 117.

The art market will feature works in media including fabric art, jewelry, rock and wood painting, photography, watercolor, folk art, macramé, wood carving and ceramics.

Participants will be part of a judged show; Tres Taylor is the judge and cash prizes will be awarded.

Musicians set to perform at the event include Larry Joe Hall, the Vegetaters and Judy Nicole Kirby.

A highlight will be a sidewalk chalk art contest adjacent to Moon Lake Community Library. The contest is open to all ages, according to the news release, and participants can bring their own chalk or take advantage of provided offerings.

They also can work individually or in groups. Those attending Follow Your Art can vote on their favorite chalk offerings; winners will be advanced at 2:30 p.m. Categories include Most Colorful, Most Imaginative and Best Use of Space.

Preregistration is not required, according to the release, but can be done at the event website or by emailing info@littleriverartscouncil.org.

The storytelling component is new for 2022, according to the news release. Local author Debbie Happy Cohen will read original fairy tales that were written for adults, but are suitable for all ages. They include “A Garden Snail named Grape,” “Jonah the Traveling Turkey” and a “Bumblebee Named Cheesedoodle.”

The sidewalk art contest at the Little River Arts Council's second Follow Your Art event Sept. 3 in Mentone is open to all ages.
The sidewalk art contest at the Little River Arts Council's second Follow Your Art event Sept. 3 in Mentone is open to all ages.

Stories will begin at 10:30 a.m. and change every 30 minutes until 2:30 p.m.

Those attending are asked to park in the field east of the walking track. Spaces qt the MERF House are reserved for handicapped parking.

The Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts are joining the Little River Arts Council and MERF in sponsoring the event.

More information is available at www.littleriverartscouncil.org/fya2022.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Art, music, storytelling event in Mentone