From Clothesline Art to Beloved Tradition

The St. James Court Art Show (Oct. 5-7, 2018) began five decades ago as a small open air art show taking up only a small corner of Old Louisville's St. James Court. It has since become the second largest event held in Louisville each year (second to the Kentucky Derby Festival). It hosts 700 artists in 4 neighborhoods in this historic part of the city. On September 3, 2018, the Kentucky Historical Society will dedicate a Kentucky Historical Marker to Malcolm Bird, and his friends, not only for founding the Art Show, but also for starting the renovations and revitalization of St. James Court in the 1950s. The work by these urban pioneers, led to the designation of the area as an Historic Preservation District in 1974 .... Old Louisville was born .... or maybe reborn. Our guests who will walk through the history with me are: Mark Bird, who, with Sonny Whittle, created the first St. James Court Art Show poster, and is Malcolm's nephew and subsequently with Sonny produced if for the following 6 years, 1981-1987new executive director of the St. James Court Art Show, Howard Rosenberglong time participant in the show photographer and now music producer Hippie Jack StoddartPrintmaker Mary Lou Hess, who has participated in the show since the beginning If you love art fairs, and particularly this one, this will be a fact-filled and fun listen as we learn what makes an art festival a success. Fun fact: this show is so popular in Louisville that they even close the schools on the Friday of the show so everyone can enjoy it.