DESTIN — The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation will present its annual Festival of the Arts Oct. 29–30 at the scenic MKAF Cultural Arts Village in Destin.
The two-day signature event features exhibits of more than 100 artists from 10 states (and one from Europe) showcasing a diverse palette of artistic styles in 15 art mediums.
This year the festival welcomes guest artist A.J. Brown, a second-generation Florida Highwayman from Fort Pierce, Florida.
The original Highwaymen were 26 self-taught African-American painters, who in the 1950s realized that they couldn’t sell their work in white-owned galleries, so they took to the road selling their scenes of beaches, sea and wildlife for $25 from their car trunks on area roadways. Today, many of the remaining Highwaymen are still on the road selling their works, but the world is more welcoming and their art sells for thousands of dollars.
“The festival has always been a celebration of art,” said MKAF Artist Market Chair Deb Nissley. “We are honored A.J. Brown was able to join us to share her legacy story through her lovely artwork. Growing through the discovery of art is what we strive to do and we’re sure festival goers will find this component both inspirational and educational."
Art lovers of all ages will be able to watch artists create works of art before your eyes, browse art from dozens of emerging new and student artists and get hands-on in the interactive children’s art station. Beyond the visual arts, the festival will feature two days of continual live music and a sampling of the local culinary arts scene. Entertaining street performers, lively art drawings and the sale of colorful keepsake souvenirs — all create a family-friendly festival feel.
“We are thrilled to return to our original roots when this festival was first born in 1995 and billed as “art on the lawn” by Southern Living magazine. Twenty years later we are proud to offer a world-class cultural art event that truly is a celebration of art, music, food and fun,” said Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation CEO Marcia Hull.
The festival runs Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Daily admission is $5. Proceeds from the event benefit MKAF and its arts education outreach programs for all. The event is free to children 12 and under and MKAF members. For more information, visit
For more information, visit mattiekellyartsfoundation.org or call 850-650-2226.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Festival to feature second-generation Florida Highwayman