2018 Spring Art Walk

In 1882, William H. Hardy founded the city of Hattiesburg. During this time, downtown was seen as a place for county and federal government personnels. This area is also the center of Hattiesburg. Since then, the city has grown in population and inquired more businesses for the public to enjoy.

Today, downtown is open to the art, music and culture the city has to offer. Some events that take place are the Farmer’s Market, fooding tasting events, live music performances, and many more. This weekend, downtown Hattiesburg hosted 2018 Art Walk.

Here, local artists and vendors were able to showcase and/or promote their art and music. This year featured several vendors from homemade goods and local restaurants, to up-and-coming designers.

According to Paige Crane, event coordinator, the Art Walk is held twice a year, and is completely family-friendly. “It’s just a fun time,” says Crane. “You know I’ve worked here for two years now, and I just love it. I love that family and friends are able to come together and just have a good time with one another.” One of the vendors were the owner of Deep South Glass, located in Sumrall, MS, and he a local glass maker. He specializes in glassblowing and glass sculpture using solid glass.

John Delance started this hobby, which later turned into a business, about

twenty- five years ago. After experimenting with the art of mini boat making, he decided to pick up a new skill. He moved to New Orleans, where on the outside of Two Lake, is a glass school. He soon became hooked on glass art and wanted to pursue it. “There is a shop on Magazine Street in New Orleans,” says Delance, “where I learned the beginning and intermediate glass skill and since then, I’ve been doing it for about fteen to twenty years now.” Delance says he has participated in the Art Walk and he enjoys it.

Up-and-coming designer Shelby Gilliland participated in the Art Walk as well. Gilliland is currently a student at William Carey, and will be graduating soon. She hopes to focus on her design career once she nishes school. Shelby Lynn Design is “hand dye tex style”. Her designs focus on pillows, napkins, scarves and other forms of art. “I took a design classes and we did a dying section and I just did it for the fun of it. At the end of the course, it kind of turned into this.” says Gilliland. This was her rst booth showcasing her collection and she says that it was a good time and a lot of people looked at her product.

Not only were local vendors invited to this event, but also restaurants and small food companies looking to expand their business. Mother and business owner, Jennifer Sheldon, has taken her love for fruity popsicles, to a local family friendly business. Selling artisan, handmade popsicles, Sheldon’s company known as IceBURG Popsicles, offers avors such as avocado lime, peach and cream, pineapple jalapeño, blueberry lemonade, and several other avors.“You know I just really love popsicles,” says Jennifer, “and I thought I wish there was a popsicle stand or shop or eating catering business in the Hattiesburg area. And I thought I guess I just need to start one. So I started making popsicles for my family and friends, and eventually got a cart and started doing some small community events like Spring Artwalk and the Marker’s Mart.” This was IceBURG Popsicles company first time participating in the Art Walk. According to Sheldon it was a success.

Honestly Beef company also attended the event.This company specializes in grass fed beef. Jacqueline Rogers founder, says that at Honestly Beef, they raise cattle and they are not on growth hormones. “Just simplegrass fed.Thepackagingiscerti ed kosher and there are not red dyes involved. Not only can you buy the beef cooked here at the Art Walk or the Farmer’s Market,” says Rogers, “but our website at honestlybeef.com you are able to order it and we will ship it to you.”

The Spring 2018 Art Walk also sponsored bands such as Triple Fret. Musician Eric Woods says that although he loves music, he does not know if he will pursue music full-time. The father of one says that he is a more complex man.“By day I’m a yogurt shop manager,” says Woods, “but by night, I am a soup maker and musician.”Woods says that he plays a little bit of everything from older music such as the Temptations and Prince, up to newer tracks such is Ed Sheeran and Childish Gambino. “I have a little bit of everything in my covers collection, but when it comes to my original music, it tends to lean towards the alternative country type of genre.”Woods also says that it would be great to be a world renowned artist one day, but for now he is happy playing at festivals and having songwriter nights at restaurants and bars. He has been playing around Hattiesburg for about eight years now. Even though in the past he has made an effort to focus on original music, he has settled into playing covers.“I usually just do it sometimes to make a little extra money on the side.” Woods has been participating in the Art Walk for three years.

The Downtown Art Walk event will continue in the Fall for the 2018 Fall Art Walk.

New artists will be able to participate in the event. Until then, Hattiesburg residents may attend and/or participate in upcoming events such as the Farmer’s Market, the Marker’s Market, Hub Feast, the annual Craw sh Bowl, and several other events.

For more information please visit downtownhattiesburg.com