Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival features female artists during Women's History Month

BY SHERIDAN ROSE
Special to Gulf Coast Media
Posted 3/22/23

FAIRHOPE — The Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival is one of the top 15 art shows in the nation according to Sunshine Artist magazine, and it takes place during Women's History Month every …

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Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival features female artists during Women's History Month

Posted

FAIRHOPE — The Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival is one of the top 15 art shows in the nation according to Sunshine Artist magazine, and it takes place during Women's History Month every year.

Although when many people of a female-dominated field when they think about art, women's art does not get as much recognition compared to men's art. According to the National Museum of Women in the Arts, 87% of art in museums in America is made by men, 85% percent of which are white men. Only 7% of Pritzker Prize winners, and less than 3% of AIA Gold Medal winners, are women. The theme for this year's International Women's History month is "Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories." This year at the festival, I was given the opportunity to speak with some women who tell their stories through their artwork.

First, I visited with Leslie Smith from Mud Mama Designs. Smith studied fine arts at the University of Alabama and has been creating art for over 25 years. I had the opportunity to talk with Smith about what Women's History Month looks like to her.

"Women's history month is a celebration and recognition of many amazing women throughout history and present day who have fought for equality and women's rights...a celebration of all the ladies, sisters, aunts, and best friends," she said. You can find Mud Mama Designs at art shows, festivals, farmers markets, Cafe Dupont in Birmingham and on Instagram.

I walked down to a booth run by Jen Siow from Persnickety Pets. Persnickety Pets got an unofficial start in 2019 when Siow started making pet collars and leashes. According to her website, Siow and her husband have "three delightful, rescued fur kids." Although Siow's work is untraditional compared to most other artists at the festival, she expressed her womanhood throughout her unique artwork. Her stall at the festival was organized, colorful and attracted many eyes.

On my way out, I stopped at a booth run by Kennedy Park. Park runs The Pale Moon Studio, an Etsy store based in Birmingham. Her store is focused on paintings inside of window frames, and prices range from $125 to $400. She mentioned that many of her paintings are based on her childhood memories.

There are many amazing female-run stalls featured at the Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival, so next time you plan to buy art, consider supporting one of these amazing women.

Sheridan Rose is a sophomore at Daphne High School, where she participates in the yearbook and takes journalism.