ArtWalk Welcomes Record Number of Artists This Year

ArtWalk returns to Fayetteville’s town square this May with more artists than ever before. This year, the festival welcomes 67 artists of all media, including painting, drawing, ceramics, jewelry, fiber, mixed media, sculpture, and more. Some of the artists participating in ArtWalk include Gerald Tobola, Jeremy Serna, and Alton Janelle.

Gerald Tobola is a selftaught copper artist inspired by his passion and curiosity for nature. He combines his woodworking skills with his copper designs to create decorative lampshades, functional bowls, and elaborate wall hanging art. You may recognize his work from last year’s festival, where he was awarded 2nd place in the 3D category.

Each of his works starts as a sheet of copper. Then, focusing on texture and shape, he carefully hammers and refines each piece using ancient metalworking techniques. The copper is then treated with acids and metal coatings to oxidize and change its color, resulting in realistic pieces that appear to have been collected right from the forest floor.

Jeremy Serna, another artist returning to the festival, is known for his bold, contemporary large-scale paintings. His work has been recognized with countless awards and can be found in corporate and private collections across the United States.

Working in acrylic and watercolor, Jeremy pushes the boundaries of traditional painting techniques, blending realism with abstraction through dynamic compositions. He paints figures and western scenes with expressive brushwork and vivid hues, bringing a riot of color to any space.

Alton Janelle 4, also known as The Culinary Craftsman, is an artist new to the festival. He hand makes one of a kind chef’s knives, along with wine keys, bottle openers, bolo ties, and other western accessories. Using various materials, like wood, metal, gemstones, animal horns and bones, acrylic and resins, and even beer hops, his fine craftsmanship and eclectic style result in heirloom quality pieces that will be talked about for generations to come.

Alton’s work has been featured in several magazines, on billboards in Times Square, and at The White House. Professional chefs, such as those that have been featured on Top Chef, Chopped, Iron Chef Showdown, First We Feast, and BBQ Brawl, trust him to make and care for their knives.

Alton accepts custom orders, working with each client individually to get to know them on a personal level. “Each of my clients ends up with an original work of functional art that feels like an extension of their soul,” he explains.

Alton will also be offering his knife sharpening services at the festival. Whether you are a home cook, professional chef, or a collector, he can bring any dull blade back to life using his own custom series of hand sharpening stones. Sharpening services are only available for fine chef knives.

ArtWalk will be held Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday, May 3, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Along with fine art, visitors can enjoy live music, children’s activities, and a food and beverage court featuring local food trucks and wineries. Visit www.artsforruraltexas.org/ artwalk to see a complete list of this year’s artists and live music schedule.