Forty years later in this self-described “Best Little Art Town in Texas,” more than 100 artists from as far away as California and across Texas offered their wares at the 41st Annual Art in the Park. The chamber expected at least 3,500 people to visit Pace Memorial Park for the fair by Sunday, said chamber executive director Suzi Epps.
Situated by the Salado Creek, vendors displayed a variety of colorful wares such as paintings, pottery and handmade bags.
The smell of barbecue and kettle corn filled the air as fairgoers browsed carrying bulging plastic bags filled with purchases. The chamber of commerce raffled tickets to win a free helicopter ride by the end of the day.
“Haven’t missed a one,” said art vendor and painter George Boutwell of Clifton. “I’ve never had a bad show here.”
Selected as an Official Texas State Artist of 2006, Boutwell said the response to his Texas-themed landscape paintings encouraged him to come back for every fair for the last 38 years.
“I’ve seen it change a bit since I started doing it,” he said describing those earlier years. “No one had any tents, everybody was just leaning paintings up against tree trunks. It’s just turned into a very organized type of thing.”
Denise Lesher, a homemaker and her 17-year-old daughter, Ashley, are new Salado residents who moved in December from Arizona. Ms. Lesher said she was on the hunt for something with a regional flair.
“I’m looking for something handmade from Texas,” said Ms. Lesher.
One such vendor, Lisa Prince of Temple turned her favorite pastime of jewelry making into a part-time business. Necklaces and bracelets of brightly colored pebbles and beads covered several tables inside her small tent.
“It’s a hobby; a hobby gone wild,” Ms. Prince, an insurance agent, said.
Arvel Boatner of Aleman - “the goat soap man” as described on a banner above his tent - dares anyone who stopped and lingered at his booth to stick out both hands and pumps a dollop of clear-liquid goop into the palms of befuddled passersby.
“This is soap made of cactus,” he told one woman while he poured a jug of water over her hands to rinse.
Boatner and his family began making toiletries made of natural products 17 years ago, he said. The family now has a plant and 3,200 distributors nationwide, he said.
Minutes later, Boatner washed the woman’s eyeglasses in the same soap.
Vickie Kelley, who had booth duty as a member of the Public Arts League of Salado, said it’s these “one-of-a-kind unique items” that vendors sell that made her decide to attend the fair Sunday.
“There are troves of treasure,” Ms. Kelley, who owns a bedding company, said.
With a population of 3,663 and eight art galleries, the town calendar is filled with art-centered events such as gallery tours and performance art, Ms. Epps said.
“I think art draws art,” she said. “A lot of people come here to visit and they stay here.”
mwest@temple-telegram.com
