WE ARE A CREATIVE BUNCH, we Minnesotans. And this weekend, 20 creatives from Faribault, Northfield and the surrounding area will showcase their work at the Straight River Art Festival.
The new event runs from 9 am–6 pm Saturday, May 21, at Heritage Park, alongside the Straight River, just a block from Faribault’s historic downtown. There fine artists will set up booths to vend their art, engage in conversation and, for some, demonstrate their crafts.
Featured art includes stained glass, jewelry, pottery, apparel and accessories, photography, hand-blown glass, textile design, painting, drawing, fiber art, quilting and woodcarving. Some of the artists are familiar, others perhaps not as much. Yet each brings talent and enthusiasm to the creative process. To have them all together in an outdoor setting makes their art easily accessible and visible.
Performing artists are also part of the Straight River Art Festival with music by Lil’ Fun Band (11 am-1 pm), Pop Prohibition (1:30-2:30 pm) and Mark Joseph (3-4 pm).
The Paradise Center for the Arts is involved, too, offering hands-on art activities for kids.
Faribault-based food truck, El Jefe, will be on site vending authentic Mexican food. El Jefe has a restaurant just a block away along Central Avenue, next to Fleur de Lis Gallery. Jess Prill, jewelry artist and gallery owner, is one of the key organizers of the art festival, along with Faribault artists Tami Resler and Paula Person. They’ve also tapped into other artists, like Jeff Jarvis, for help with the fest.
Prill loves art festivals. And, obviously, art and artists given her creative bend and home-grown Fleur de Lis Gallery. “Faribault is an amazing town with a ton of talent to highlight so I knew this event would be a great way to do that,” she says. She also notes the need for “more fun things for people in the community to do in town.” Her desire to create a new arts festival drew her to Resler and Person, both actively engaged in the arts and with strong connections to local creatives.
“We are all very passionate about the town and the arts and are very excited to bring this event to the community,” Prill continues.
I’m excited, too, as I share Prill’s love of the arts. I cannot imagine a life without writing and photography. Both feed my spirit, my soul, my need to create. And this Saturday 20 creatives who share that passion will fill Heritage Park with their art and creative energy.
© Copyright 2022 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
what a lovely coming together of creatives – it’s a win-win for all. p.s. I really love that bird pottery.
Thank you for appreciating all these creatives. And Tami’s bird pottery.
Love the creative and being involved in the creative be it listening to music, admiring arts and crafts, making art/crafts, etc. Just gives you a break to let the mind just go and be free and not stuck in that normal routine. Enjoy – Happy Day 🙂
Thanks for being part of the creative community and for valuing the works of creatives.
This sounds like a great event. Hopefully it takes off. Thanks for letting us know about it.
You are welcome. I hope it’s successful, too. Unfortunately, the weather is looking a bit “iffy” for Saturday.