Rain fails to dampen spirits at Art Struck Festival

The rain filled clouds over Johnson City on Saturday played no part in stopping the community in supporting the annual Art Struck Festival. Hosted by the city of Johnson City's public art committee, this year marks the sixth festival since 2019. Spicey Pate, the chair of the Art Struck Festival committee, said the committee makes it a goal to hold the festival annually "because it is really one of our community favorites." "The Art Struck Festival is just a fantastic way to bring local artists and their talents together with the community and share it with all because we should celebrate the arts," she said. With more than 50 vendors, activities for all ages and performances the event gave an opportunity for everyone to participate and indulge in their artistic talents. Kayla Byrd, owner of Kayla Byrd Studio and member of Tennessee Craft, has been selling her handmade powder coated and sterling silver jewelry for five years at the festival. Power coating and making jewelry has been a creative outlet for Byrd for several years. She said whether she sells a piece or not, she still makes connections at the event. She enjoys the diversity of artists and activities the event brings to the community each year. She said she always says people "come for the art (and) stay for the art." Free screen printing by Crystal Cat Design Co. was a new addition to this year's festival Prate said. People lined up to get their very own bandana with a custom festival print. Owned by, Emily Parris and Hunter Bullard, the two worked together with Bullard helping the community with screen printing the bandana and Parris curing the piece making it ready to wear. Members of Tennessee Craft Lee Morrison and Micheal Dinapoli sat and crafted together while people stopped and watched as the passed by. Morrison, who works with wire, made jewelry out of chain mail using different patterns while Dinapoli, a potter, used leaves from his garden as a template for his work. Morrison said the event serves as a way for him to interact with the community and other crafters helping each other develop as artists while also supporting one another. "Sometimes you feel like you're all alone out there," Morrison said. "It makes you feel good when you talk to other people who go 'that is neat.'" He said his interactions with the community motivate him as an artist to continue doing what he enjoys. Activities at the festival included but were not limited to a chalk art competition, community chalk art mandala and a street art throwdown. Sonie Summers, a participant in the chalk art competition, chose to illustrate a portrait of her daughter holding a bouquet of flowers to fit the floral theme. This is the third year Summers has participated in the chalk art competition. She said the portrait was inspired by Sandro Botticelli's painting, "Prima Vera" "which features the goddess world." Joseph Maye, a participant in the street art throwdown, has participated in the festival's graffiti event for two years. Maye used his wooden canvas to illustrate a cubism rabbit in bright red paint with white and blue accents. He said a lot of his work involves cubism — an art movement created by Pablo Picasso. He chose a rabbit because he was born in the year of the rabbit and he said he is obsessed with them as well. Each canvas will be hung in the breezeway located in downtown Johnson City after the festival. Community members could be seen supporting local businesses, indulging in cultural performances and letting their own creativity shine. "Artists have to support artists in trying times and we're all here for each other," Kelly Hall, owner of Books and Cleverness, said.