Amazing is the best description of the Firefly Fine Arts Festival at the Renaissance Center in Dickson. The quality of art, in all its forms, was a delight to the senses!
After bumping through the field parking, I smelled the fresh hay and heard the music from one of the two performance stages. Directed to the gravel path that wound through field and forest , my eyes feasted on the celebration of visual and performing arts. From fire pit art to ballroom dancing, along with various forms of paintings, pottery and sculpting, as well as music and theater, the quality of art was amazing. Colorful stained glass work danced in the sunlight. Sculptures were designed from metals, wood, glass, textiles and clay as well as household items such as paintbrushes and coffee pots. Photos and paintings beckoned for passersby to stop and look again, jewelry was not only functional but artistic All of the art was unique. And the event is FREE!
Meanwhile, children were dancing in the field in front of the WSM stage where Farmer Jason was performing, lending to the true air of an outdoor festival. Demo areas staged instruction and hands-on activities for those of us who have to feel art and participate in its creation.
The gravel path directed me from one artist to the next, many of whom were ready and willing to tell me about their experience at this festival. Most told me that they NEVER enter first time events, but made an exception for this one because of the integrity of its presentation from the start as well as the reputation of the Renaissance Center. Each exhibitor that I spoke with gushed with appreciation about the hospitality from the festival staff ( dinner, happy hour, service with a smile). Great PR for Southern hospitality at its best!
It was exciting to see the familiar faces of local artists like Jeremy Tummins (photography), Kristin Burton-Work (painting) and Rose Littrell( sculpture) from Dickson, Eric Lankford ( sculpture) and David & Susan Allsbrooks (glass) from Burns, as well as Frank Baggett ( painting) from Waverly. Several artists came in from Centerville and Nashville, and I was very energized to speak with artists who came long distances from MO, TX, WI, IL, VA, NC as well as surrounding states to see if Dickson could host a successful festival. It is one thing when an artist enters a festival and can go home to eat and sleep at night, but it is another when the artist has to invest travel, food and hotel expenses to gamble on a new venue.
Did you know that the Firefly (aka lightening bug) is our official state bug? Jeremy Spencer, director of this “cosmopolitan celebration of the… arts” event, said the idea for the title grew out of discussions for a summer art event with the Renaissance Center and the Community Arts Development Board. Experiencing the festival , one would be hard pressed to guess that it was a first time event. Although tents were being moved to shadier sites due to the heat, the atmosphere was not frantic but peaceful and inviting.
Many thanks to Holly and Jeremy Spencer ( of House Blend), the Community of Arts Development and the Renaissance Center for trusting and believing in Dickson enough to carry off such an event . My hope is that it is indeed the FIRST annual Firefly Fine Arts Festival, with many more years to follow! What a blessing to those of us who get to indulge our senses and to those merchants in Dickson who benefit from the patrons who will come from far and wide to experience this event!
NOTE: parking is on East Grab Creek just past the Renaissance Center.
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