The award-winning Cottonwood Art Festival is in full bloom this spring, May 6 & 7, and it’s still the most awe-inspiring festival in town!
Spring has sprung at the Cottonwood Art Festival, featuring over 200 artists, live music, irresistible food, and craft beer.
Take a weekend to be immersed into a creative wonderland of artwork and diverse exhibitions. Featuring one-of-a-kind, limited edition works in paintings, sculptures, ceramics, jewelry, fiber art, fine glass, woodwork, mixed media, and photography, there’s a new adventure around every corner.
Since 1969, this free festival has grown to become the leading art show in North Texas as hundreds of the best local, national, and international artists come together in Cottonwood Park for one-of-a-kind wonderland. Activities include immersive exhibits, live music, and diverse cuisine.
Featured Artist
Karina Llergo was born and raised in Mexico City where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design as well as advanced degrees in Multimedia, Animation, and Abstract Art. She studied with famed Mexican artist, Roberto Cortarzar, and portraitist, Enrique Estrada, who both saw her talent and strongly encouraged her to continue her artistic journey.
As a lifelong dancer, competitive swimmer, and avid skydiver, she found herself drawn to depicting on canvas the palpable energy of the human body in motion. Driven by these fascinations and armed with her talent for figurative painting, Karina found a way to translate her observations and creative imagination into thought-provoking paintings of breathtaking beauty.
Llegro currently resides in Northbrook, Ill and first exhibited at the Cottonwood Art Festival in Spring 2019. “Ride Free” is the featured artwork selected for the Spring show and depicts a free-spirted rider, adorned horse and soaring bird. Originals and prints will be available for purchase at the festival including a limited edition 24-karat gold leaf embellished gallery wrapped canvas reproductions.
When speaking about how her art started, “One of the first paintings I did as a kid was the face of a horse. After all the years I took that idea as my inspiration for a painting.” Llegro said. Llegro continues speaking about the festival and states, “The enthusiasm and appreciation I receive from my collectors at Cottonwood Art Festival keeps getting better every year. I especially love when they share with me why and how they are touched by my art.”
Official merchandise featuring artwork by Karina Llegro ca be purchased on-site at the festival or online including t-shirts, tank tops, posters and other items.
Community Outreach
In addition to bringing artists from all over the world to celebrate their art, The Cottonwood Art Festival also provides opportunities for students in the community to learn about the importance of art and foster their own blossoming creativity through two community outreach programs.
The Emerging Artist Program was created to recognize the talent of local senior high school art students by allowing them to display their work at the Charles W. Eisemann Center during April and selling their work alongside the attending professional and renowned artists. Interested students submitted an art concept, artist statement and images of their work to their teacher and a jury for acceptance into the program. Thanks to Neighborhood Credit Union, sponsors of the outreach program, the students will also receive placement awards and scholarship money.
Cottonwood also partners with Richardson ISD for the Visiting Artist Program which increases participation in visual arts beyond the festival and into the classroom. Cottonwood artists make short presentations that provide hands-on art activities and share their experiences with RISD classes. These visits provide artists an opportunity to give back to a community that has strongly supported fine arts for five decades, and students with the opportunity to meet real artists and not just study about one who may have painted or created sculptures centuries ago. Fun for the whole family!
The Cottonwood Arts Festival is an event for everyone with a variety of Festival food and beverage favorites, two stages of live music and even creative opportunities for kids to explore art.
On the Main Stage, families can lounge in the Courtyard and enjoy live music by artists including Lee Rotholz, Texanadian: Dalene Richelle and Scott E, Blurry, Jon Christopher Davis, Southpaw Preachers, Darrin Kobetich, Jennifer Perryman, Remy Reilly and Mr. Inez Band. The Acoustic Stage will feature music by Jeff Groce, Wyatt Martin, Miller Campbell, Alex Lease, Almost Jaded and Matt Tedder and more! Meanwhile, kids can take their own creative journey through the ArtStop Children’s Area where they will experience various art styles at hands-on stations like Learn to Weave, Paint like Picasso, Explore Culture and more!
The Cottonwood Art Festival is fun for the whole family! Whether you’re a painting pro as good as Picasso or just love unique handmade jewelry, this is the fest for you with over 200 of the best local, national, and international artists showcasing their art in the luscious greenery of the beautiful Cottonwood Park in Richardson, TX.
For more information, including upcoming festival dates, news, and updates, please visit CottonwoodArtFestival.com.
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