Vendor booths at Art Stalk. Photo by M.K. Bryant, News editor. By M.K. Bryant, News editor
Montevallo’s Halloween-themed Artwalk, known as Art Stalk, was held on Oct. 28. Throughout the day, art vendors lined Main Street, stretching from Anderson Eye Care to Provenance Church.
Artwalk was started in 2011 by former Montevallo mayor Hollie Cost. Leadership was later passed on to Tiffany Bunt, and now, the Montevallo Artwalk Coordinator is Emily Gill.
This year marked Montevallo Artwalk’s biggest turnout.
“We had 137 booths. We had a few no-shows, maybe 10, but I think the crowd has been pretty steady,” Gill said.
The price for vendors to participate was $12 for students and $25 for non-students.
“I think this is a great way for people who are established to connect with an audience, and then for people who are just getting started out to see if this is something that is going to be a viable side career or full career for them,” Gill said.
This was UM freshman Andie Hites’s first time selling their crochet work at an art festival.
“It’s been a really positive experience,” Hites said.
The Artwalk’s parent organization is the Montevallo Arts Collaborative.
Montevallo Arts Collaborative member Melanie Poole discussed some of the projects that the organization is involved with.
“The Montevallo Arts Collaborative brings the arts to Montevallo through visual art, the theatrical arts and musical arts. We put on Arts Fest in April, we do Tinglewood in September, we do Artwalk in October and this year we’re debuting a Christmas arts festival called the Montevallo Merry Market,” Poole said.
The Montevallo Merry Market will be held on Nov. 25 in the parking lots between Montevallo Family Dentistry and C’s Coffee.
“We’re gonna have snow, Santa Claus and Christmas music,” Poole said.
Outside of the vendors, Art Stalk also included live music, a costume contest and a scavenger hunt. This year’s costume contest was judged by the Montevallo Junior City Council.
Musicians played at Owl’s Cove Park throughout the day, including Ramblin’ Ricky Tate, Davis Little & Haleigh Black and Kingfish.
“We also have a couple of food vendors, and, of course, everyone is enjoying the Main Street restaurants. It’s great to see people come out and participate in local events and patronize local businesses” Poole said.
Poole stated that, if locals are interested in getting involved with the Montevallo arts community, to stop by Blue Phrog Gallery or email montevalloarts@gmail.com.
M.K. Bryant is a contributing journalist for The Alabamian. She’s majoring in mass communication with a concentration in multimedia journalism, and she’s double-minoring in theatre and creative writing. When she’s not busy watering her plants or writing, M.K. can probably be found wandering around an art museum or a library.
