Red House to hold historic arts festival concurrent with ArtsCape Saturday

The Red House Interpretive Center plans to enter the art festival arena Saturday with its inaugural historic arts and crafts festival, Mayfest.

The idea started with Margaret Dement, who handles Red House publicity, said Red House director Jane Randol Jackson. Dement, an artist herself, thought starting a festival at the Red House would be a good way to showcase historic craft artists who don't get much exposure at other events.

The festival will feature craft artists Owen Sloan, who makes rings from old spoons; Mary Thompson, a chair caner and basket weaver; and six of the River Valley Woodcarvers, a local group of carvers. Eight to 10 vendors will also be on hand, Jackson said. Some craftspeople will be in period dress.

Saturday was chosen as the festival date months ago, long before Red House personnel learned that the ArtsCape community arts festival will also be taking place. The two events are happening at virtually the same time -- ArtsCape from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Mayfest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Jackson said the Red House festival isn't meant to compete with ArtsCape.

"Hopefully people will hear about both of them, and go to both of them," Jackson said.

This year's first shot at the festival is small, said Jackson, but the Red House hopes to build the festival into a semi-annual event, with one in May and another in October.

"If we can catch on, in the fall we'll have more people," said Jackson. She said the plan is to expand the festival as interest grows. With that expansion more types of historic crafts will be on display, she said.

The Red House hosts events with special guests -- primarily craftspeople, musicians and storytellers -- every Saturday during the warm months. But the Mayfest event will be the first of its kind.

msanders@semissourian.com

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