St. James Court Art Show underway in Old Louisville, 250,000 people expected to attend

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- One of the most popular art shows in the country is underway in Old Louisville.

Now in its 67th year, the St. James Court Art Show is an annual fall tradition that happens during the first weekend in October. It started at 10 o'clock Friday morning and continues until 6 p.m. and continues through 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free for the rain or shine event. Sorry, no pets allowed.

An estimated 250,000 people are expected to check out artistic creations from more than 600 exhibitors at dozens of booths sprawled across four square blocks in historic Old Louisville.

We bumped into Howard Rosenberg, executive director for the festival, who was glad to see the clouds part and the sun come out.

"The rain got out of here, this is what we expect," Rosenberg said as he surveyed the crowds. "It's such an iconic event, all these people coming down here to enjoy the art, the homes, the artists -- everything -- it's incredible."

Rosenberg said the purpose of the event is to give back to the neighborhood while focusing on the artists and their craftsmanship.

IMAGES | The 67th Annual St. James Court Art Show

Some artists worked through the night on their creations, and we caught up with Thomas, who was getting ready before the sun came up on opening day.

Thomas is exhibiting his designer woods and resin art for the second year at the festival.

"I make tabletops, lazy Susans, all kinds of different things out of live Edgewood and epoxy resin. I do it a little different than a lot of people, with the colors and the rocks."

Thomas said he uses a technique called fractal burning. "I have a transformer that's 10,000 volts, and I use that to put electricity through the wood after I put a solution of baking soda and water so it will conduct the electricity. It does what it does and I have no control. If I had control, it wouldn't look this cool."

Hannah Baker was also up early, working on her clay pottery pieces. This is her third year exhibiting at the show. She said her husband got her interested in the craft.

"He wanted to take private pottery lessons for date night," Baker said. "And it was a great date night. After our four private lessons, he got me a kiln and a wheel, and I started doing it in our house."

She said she "did a lot of practicing over the COVID shutdown, which is why I think I was able to progress the way I did."

Lydia Randolph, from Lookout Mountain, Alabama, was back for her fifth year at the event. She got hooked after winning an award the first year she participated. One of her pieces for sale this year is a painting she calls "Mountain Laurel."

Randolph said she meets the nicest people at the show. "I love it here," she said.

Anita Bice, who is exhibiting her art for the second year, said the location for the show couldn't be better, and loves "the atmosphere, the artists, the people, the houses, the neighborhood. It's beautiful. It's just one of a kind."

Bice used her 30-year background as an architectural illustrator as a springboard into creating paintings and other art.

"I started wanting to paint things that I wanted to paint instead of what someone else wanted me to paint," she explained. "I actually started with pots and pans, a big painting because a lady commissioned me to cover up an ugly fuse box in her kitchen."

Bice's work also features animals as the subject of her pieces.

"My daughter wanted my grandson to have safari animals in his nursery, so I painted a set of eight," Bice said. "I have 19 animals now, and I have sea creatures. People who come to the show seem to really, really love those. And they make people laugh, and that makes me happy."

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

Kentucky is bourbon country and there's plenty of bourbon-themed art on hand at the show, including an exhibit of furniture made from bourbon barrels manned by Rhett Baird from Union, Kentucky.

"It's been a great show for me. Last year I had a great reception. The people loved the furniture and bought a lot of it, so I'm here with more and more improved stuff."

Baird said he has been crafting the pieces full-time for about two years after quitting his regular job. He has an assortment of chairs, benches, tables and even a bar for sale.

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