Local Artists Feature Work at McConnelsville Festival

Local artists showcased their masterpieces at the Howard Chandler Christy Art Guild Festival Saturday.

The 48th annual event took place at The Grove in McConnelsville. Artists from all over the community featured an eclectic variety of art, including photography, paintings, and sculptures. Crooksville metal sculptor, Rick Crooks said it’s rewarding to see the public experience his craft first-hand.

“It’s fun putting it together and having people be able to identify when I try to make something, and people know what it is, when I get done, they can identify, and say that is an owl, or an alligator, or a machine gun, and then a lot of people enjoy just looking over the things and see what all I’ve used for different parts and where they’ve come from,” Crooks said.

Nature’s beautiful scenery is what this year’s featured artist, Owen Morrow, said inspires him. The 16-year-old talented photographer is the youngest member of the Howard Chandler Christy Art Guild.

“I’m pretty happy about it, it’s been pretty fun so far, a lot of people have come to see me,” Morrow said. “They are usually like, you did this? Is this really yours?, and I say yeah, and they usually ask how old I am and everything.”

There will be an art auction Sunday, at 3:30 p.m. All proceeds benefit art projects in area schools and around the community.