Makers Fair, Unscene!, Holiday in dixie Parade Make For Must-see event

“We’ve dubbed ourselves ‘the big scene,’” Madge Davis, with Ark-La-Tex Ambassadors – a group who puts on the Holiday in Dixie Parade, said.

That’s because the Texas Avenue Makers Fair, the Holiday in Dixie Parade, and Shreveport Regional Arts Council’s UN- SCENE! are coming together to stage one huge event. The day will start at 11 a.m. with the Makers Fair, then UNSCENE! will have three stages throughout Texas Avenue to animate the street. Later in the day, the Holiday in Dixie Parade will come through Shreveport Common and the Makers Fair. As the parade exits the area, musician Theresa Andersson will take the stage with a brand new show featuring local choreographers, a local choir and a digital artist animating the stage via tablet.

The Texas Avenue’s Makers Fair, which is put together by the Texas Avenue Community Association, has been successful since the first event in October 2010, said Kelly McSwain of the Texas Avenue Makers Fair.

“I think the Makers Fair has been so successful because we have an immense amount of diversity when it comes to art,” McSwain said. “It’s an event that brings fine art, crochet items, jewelry, soap, food, desserts, all in one day. It’s a feast for the eyes and taste buds. It also truly showcases all that Shreveport has to offer.”

Each fair has been larger than the last, featuring crafts, art and homemade goods under the slogan, “This ain’t your Mamma’s craft fair!” This year, the [event] is spreading further down Texas Avenue, providing more space for vendors and shoppers alike.

“We’re still using the same block of Texas Avenue that we’ve been using but also expanding up to Grand Avenue,” McSwain said. “[The Makers Fair] has for a long time wanted to expand up Texas Avenue, and our partnership with UNSCENE! has allowed us to do that.

“I also happened upon the Old Pecan Street Festival in Austin and was blown away with how cool it was and want that for Shreveport,” McSwain said. “I loved how individualized everyone made their tents and thought that truly encompassed the spirit of ‘makers.’ “Also, it will be less crowded. We’ve gotten complaints about it being too crowded under the shed before.”

Conchita McElwee is one vendor who is excited about the expansion.

“I have lived in larger cities. Art fairs are on the street, with open tables and open atmosphere. It’s the perfect time of year for it,” McElwee said. “Also, sometimes being under that shed was too dark. I like sunshine and I am excited to be out in it.”

McElwee’s booth features the kind of unique handmade items that would be impossible to find elsewhere. “I never really make the same thing twice anymore. I always have hair fascinators because that is my long time love of art and I sell those consistently in New Orleans. I have offered everything from googleeye Christmas ornaments to hand painted paper skulls for a year that corresponded with the time of Dia de los Muertos. This time I am making fun and wacky sunglasses because I am excited for spring. I may also have hand painted plaques. I make every single thing as an individual. I do not make copies. Like the people who buy my art, they are all very different,” McElwee said.

McElwee has been participating in the event since its inception in 2010.

“I come back because I feel that Shreveport needs more art outside of the spectrum of what you can pick up in big box stores like Target and World Market,” McElwee said. “I want original art from real people, and the [Makers Fair] provides an affordable resource to buy art. I think the booths are affordable, even at the new rate.”

McElwee said she believes the event is really benefitting the community of artists in the area. “The fact that it is an all-volunteer event means it is really about community. I have been making art for a while in Shreveport, but the [Makers Fair] has introduced me to people I might not have met otherwise. Also, because the artists involved change from fair to fair, you see new things to buy each time.”

While McElwee has been involved with the Makers Fair from the onset, Derick Jones will be a first time vendor this year.

“I had always wanted to find a way to become a part of it, but with working a full time job and all of the fun responsibilities of adulthood, it was always a little hard to justify taking the time to do it,” Jones said. “I volunteered last year to help work someone’s booth, and getting to meet so many new faces was a blast. I’ve been crafty my whole life, and I love creating art.

“I’ve been attending the Maker’s Fair since its inception in 2010,” Jones said. “It’s such a fun market for Shreveport- Bossier City to have. There are so many local and regional artists who come together for this one day bazaar of odds and ends. Between the art, food, music and crafting, it really should be a three-day event. There’s just so much to do.”

Jones is the owner of Olive Street Thrift and Vintage. He said owning his business has opened him up to the art world.

“I spent most of my life growing up surrounded by art, making art and just experiencing art at museums, exhibitions and around town. I’ve always been fascinated with what people can do to manipulate what’s already there, and that’s what we’ll be doing,” Jones said. “We will carry furniture pieces that have been refinished by myself and my partner, Evan Stevens. We will also carry a selection of vintage clothing from our store.

We’re still a month out so who knows what else we’ll find to make.”

Jones hopes participating in the Makers Fair will introduce his business to the art community. “Exposure is key to surviving in this town. If you offer the best services and no one knows you exist, no one will come,” Jones said.

Those who venture downtown for the Makers Fair will also get the chance to see the 66th Holiday in Dixie Parade beginning at 5:30 p.m.

“The parade will come through the market, and when we come back, UN- SCENE! will perform after the parade,” Davis said. “We’re working together to bring lots of people downtown. We’ll have lots of throws, beads, cups and candy. We’ll have marching bands, several floats, and the King and Queen of Cotillion and their court. We will have a military float this year, featuring military personnel riding in the parade. We will have lots of highsteppers and dancelines and the Shriners.

We’ll also have Miss Holiday in Dixie, Tori Thompson, as well as Mrs. Louisiana, Christy Whitaker.”

Davis said the parade is family friendly. “It’s earlier in the day, it’s not a real long parade, and so you can do lots of other things downtown. At the end of the parade, we will have the carnival going on down at Festival Plaza. The parade kicks off our whole week of carnival.”

The Holiday in Dixie Parade is put on by the Ark-La-Tex Ambassadors, a group of businessminded members of the community who wanted to come together and celebrate this whole area.

“The timing was chosen so that it could also celebrate the start of springtime and the Louisiana Purchase,” Davis said.

The day will culminate with UN- SCENE!, featuring a multimedia experience by Theresa Andersson.

“It’s going to be a grand show, actually. I’m excited to be associated with it,” Andersson said. “I’m collaborating with some amazing Shreveport artists to create things that are unseen and unheard of before.”

“I’m a composer and a performance artist who has been best known lately as a onewoman act, playing all of the instruments myself and singing. This time I’ll mostly singing and playing violin and playing a few other little instruments throughout the night, which is almost relaxing compared to what I’ve been doing.”

Andersson will not be alone, however.

She is collaborating with some local artists to make this a truly one-of-a-kind event. “Joe Bluhm is creating a visual element. He’ll be using the digital medium to create something inspired by the sound,” Andersson said. “I’m very interested to see what happens with melody when you put it in colors and shapes.”

“Luther Cox is a local choreographer who has as small dance troupe, and they do interpretive dancing. He’s done several things around the city and is influenced by anything from West African tribal dancing to jazz and modern dance.”

Andersson said she will also collaborate with Sereca Henderson, a choir director.

“[Henderson] has singers of all ages, so I’m excited about that.”

Learn more about all of the events of “The Big Scene” by visiting their website, thebigscene.org