The 26th Annual Butternut Creek Art Festival took place July 19-20 at Meeks Park, continuing a legacy that has now spanned nearly three decades of juried festivals. There’s always a little bit of something for everyone, whether one’s interests lie in jewelry, woodworking or even cooking.
Jim and Rita Stellick of Woodbine Designs had some lamps and fascinating sculptures on display. Crafted from copper pipe sections and displayed on wood bases, stick figures with plenty of personality posed in various activities to light up small spaces with their bulb heads.
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“He’s got a very creative mind,” Rita said of her husband, who does the woodwork and pieces the “dudes and dudettes” together himself. Jim, humbly taking up residence behind the shelf displaying his copper constructs, prefers to let his wife handle customer service.
Jose Green served in the U.S. Army before pursuing a career in law enforcement. After being injured in the line of duty, he turned to art for a sense of fulfillment, and so, The Reclaimed Artist was born.
Salvaged from wood that would otherwise be thrown away as excess in table-making, Green found it was the perfect canvas for his painting and woodworking.
“Anything nature-wise I enjoy doing,” Green stated, adding that he found inspiration for his work by going on hikes. “I’ve become more in love with birds now that I paint them. I feel more intimate with the bird now that I actually have to have all the detail.”
Speaking of details, it’s amazing how much can be added to pottery crafted with mud, but that’s exactly what Tony Mitchell does with his aptly named Mudd Pottery. Featuring everything from bacon heaters to deviled egg trays and mugs and cups, Mitchell had a wide variety of art on display that weekend.
Having practiced and attended shows for over two decades, Mitchell is no stranger to the world of art festivals. It’s not unusual to start a piece, find inspiration elsewhere, and make the most of what results. Mitchell said that for him, art is about self-expression, and that sentiment was echoed by other creators and even visitors.
Expression was alive and well, for instance, in the talents of the Country River Band, which boats more than 35 years of musical experience. Specializing in classic country, they are an accomplished group, having earned 2023 Georgia Country Awards Overall Artist of the Year and other accolades.
Nancy Pool has been a fan and a friend for years; she and Dan Homan were there primarily to listen to their music, but it was Homan’s first time at the Butternut Festival.
“She’s the reason I’m here,” Homan said, playfully pointing to Pool, who makes a point of coming every year. Outside of the music, Pool returns for the gorgeous, handcrafted art and the reasonable prices. In being brought along, Homan had to admit that he also enjoyed the sights.
And with the place exhibiting a family-friendly environment, that meant people of all ages could enjoy the festival. Joseph Yerdon and Amy Allred brought their two sons to experience new things and enjoy the atmosphere of Meeks Park.
“The kids got to play in the creek chasing crawdads (and) got to see new arts that they’ve never seen,” said Yerdon of Athens, who was up visiting his mother in Blairsville.
“This is very gorgeous,” Allred said of the park while being impressed also with the festival itself. Their decision to attend was spur-of-the-moment, with Allred having seen a sign advertising the event.
It ended up being worth it, with the boys charmed by the Coal Mountain Panjo. The makers performed “This Little Light of Mine,” spurring the pair to dance and sing along. Allred, who happened to be considering learning an instrument, found the perfect opportunity to buy one.
Trevor Staton also made it a family outing, and though he has attended the Sorghum Festival before, he had never been to the Butternut Creek Art Festival. Staton was pleasantly surprised and ended up purchasing woodwork to decorate his home.
“To me, art is creativity; art is someone’s individuality coming out, their ability to express themselves a lot of time, and a way to connect with others,” Staton said, adding that he would “absolutely” return next year.
