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• Main Street Players

The third Montevallo Arts Fest was held on April 17-18, 2009, as part of An April Celebration of the Arts, a cooperative effort of the University of Montevallo Literary Festival, the Montevallo Main Street Players, and the Montevallo Arts Council. The Fest was made possible by a very generous group of sponsors.

On Friday afternoon, Montevallo Arts Council’s Distinguished Author Mary Ward Brown, author of a 2002 short story collection titled It Wasn't All Dancing and Other Stories and winner of the 1987 PEN/Hemingway Award and the Lillian Smith Award for her 1987 collection titled Tongues of Flame, read from her newly published memoir, Fanning the Spark, and signed copies of it.

On Friday evening, following the Montevallo Main Street Players' performance of Boy Gets Girl, artists and performers were honored at a reception hosted by Montevallo Chamber of Commerce.

Saturday, April 18, featured over fifty visual artists displaying and selling their work along the walking trail by Shoal Creek. Orr Park provided a beautiful setting for Saturday’s activities, and luckily the rain held off throughout the day. Cash awards were given for each of the following prizes: Best of Show - Wayne Barlett, Calera, AL, for his digital art (photo at right); First Place - Andrew Cost, Montevallo, AL, for his painting; Second Place - Marilyn Huey, Springville, AL, for her reed baskets; and Third Place - Ron and Susan Sutterer, Floyd, VA, for their pottery. See the complete list of artists designating prize winners and identifying each artist's medium. A few more photos of the 2009 Fest are featured here.

In addition, there were splendid musical performances by the great jazz bass player, Cleve Eaton, and his band, the Alabama All Stars, as well as by Walon Smith, Charlotte Kendrick, Andy Cohen (pictured at left), and local favorites Chuck King and the Pineapple Skinners and the Montevallo High School String Band. The day’s music concluded with a rousing performance by Sol Azteca. A clown and a face painter entertained children during the day, and art from Montevallo Elementary School was displayed.

Throughout the morning, the Shelby Council Arts Council displayed the bicycles and announced winners of its Bicycles on Parade contest. The 2009 Arts Fest also welcomed Glock, the Montevallo Police Department's K-9 officer, and Officer Chad Lovelady, his handler and partner to raise funds for Glock's much needed K-9 Vest.

Photos of the 2009 Arts Fest are by John Kirby. Photos of the very first Montevallo Arts Fest (2007) and of the 2008 Fest are also available.