Artists ready for St. James Art Show - and 250,000 art fans in Old Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- One of the top art shows in the country is set to begin in Louisville on Friday.

The St. James Court Art Show in Old Louisville is an annual fall tradition that is expected to attract more than 250,000 people to the three-day festival.

Louisville glass artist Chad Balster will share his passion for art with people around the country starting Friday.

"St. James Court nationally is probably one of the best art shows you can do," Balster said.

Crews worked in Old Louisville on Wednesday setting up booths and food vendors ahead of the show. The show, which is now in its 67th year, features more than 600 artists from around the country and Canada, all set up on streets around Old Louisville.

"We have a relentless focus on the artist, we're all nonprofit," said Howard Rosenberg, executive director of St. James Court Art Show. "We treat the artists as if they were part of this neighborhood."

Parking along St. James closed a day early this year to allow for extra time to set up.

Jewelers, painters and sculptures will take up several streets around St. James Court for the fall tradition.

"From Chicago, all the way to Nashville, even Florida, I have people coming through," Balster said.

"This is such an iconic event that whether you buy something or not people want to come through here and look at this beautiful neighborhood," Rosenberg said. "It's an experience like no other in the United States."

Balster said the event can be a big money maker, but some art that is popular one year, could cool off the next.

"There have been years where even like Christmas ornaments that I make, they sell out and then Sunday are not making money," Balster said. "So it is good to kind of plan ahead and look at past years very economically."

For Balster, it's a camaraderie and competition between the artists that they share during the art show.

To see a map of this year's layout around Old Louisville, click here. And for more information on the show, click here.

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