Thousands gather for 52nd Art Sunday in Scottsboro, celebrating community and creativity
Story By Katie Hightower
On Aug. 30, the 52nd Art Sunday was hosted by the Scottsboro Three Arts Club at King Caldwell Park in Scottsboro. Thousands attended the fund-raising event which not only brought the community together through a unique social and shopping experience, it brought the arts to the people through performances and demonstrations.
Artists and vendors displayed their pieces under canopies that lined along the walkways of Caldwell park. As attendees walked through the maze of artistry and craftsmanship, they had to opportunity to meet the artists and ask them questions about their work. Some artists and craftsmen created pieces during the event so that those in attendance could see their process.
There were live musical performances which included Lisa Wiggins’ Violin Studio, Sonni Hood’s Piano Studio, SHS Beta Singers and the Scottsboro Community Band. During the performances, people lined up to watch and some took seats to relax as they listened and watched as the musicians made live audio artistry for the event.
Kids, grandparents, parents and even family dogs attended the event. As families shopped and appreciated art, many would stop for activities like face-painting or jewelry-making. Food vendors were there for those who found themselves hungry or thirsty as they walked through the park.
Each year, the Scottsboro Three Arts Club sold commemorative teeshirts for the Art Sunday event. Those who purchased the teeshirts gained free entry to Art Sunday. This year, 320 of the commemorative shirts were sold and many community members were seen at the event wearing the shirts in support of Art Sunday.
Artists at Art Sunday were judged by local artists, Jaia Chen, Barbara Kilgore and Lauren Holcomb. Winners for each division included the following: Arts & Crafts, William Craven (Wood by Willie); Mixed Media, Eva Genera (Muertenation); Painting, John Warr (Warr Art); Photography, Matt Crowell (Matt Crowell Photography); Sculpture, Georgia Duke (Paper Moon Originals) and Best in Show, Kimberly Everett (Kimist Designs).
The annual amateur photography contest received over 150 entries and gave the amateur photographers the opportunity to display their artwork. Each entrant was also able to attend Art Sunday for free. Each age group had three winners and an honorable mention. Lettie Summers, a third grader from Caldwell Elementary, was excited to see she won first and second place for the K-4 division. She took the winning photos of herself in a pool and her dad’s eye with an iPad and an Android phone. She smiled and giggled when she found out she won.
“Lettie is a super talented artist, singer and a dancer,” said Lettie’s mother, Melissa Summers.
One vendor at Art Sunday aimed to give back to the community through a charitable cause. The Bellomy Bunch sold Kim Rice Holman’s chicken salad and other food items to raise money for the Jason Wilkerson Memorial Scholarship fund. Not only did The Bellomy Bunch help raise money for deserving seniors, they helped the Scottsboro Three Arts Club serve the community as well.
“The day was a resounding success. We strive to make Art Sunday better every year, and I believe we succeed each time. The Three Arts Club is a volunteer organization, and every member pours their time and energy into making this event possible,” said Rachael Graham, president of the Scottsboro Three Arts Club. “Seeing it all come together with such strong community support reminds us why we do what we do. With beautiful weather, delicious food, lively music and an incredible variety of arts and crafts, this year’s event was truly special. It is a tremendous honor that Art Sunday has been a part of this community for 52 years, and we are committed to working hard to ensure it thrives for another 52 years to come.”
Funds raised by Art Sunday will be used to serve the community through the arts. Through the years, the Scottsboro Three Arts Club funded violin lessons for third graders and field trips for local students. The field trips gave students who wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to attend a theater, ballet or symphony performance the chance to have that exposure with their classmates. The funds helped award scholarships for graduating seniors, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, the IMPACT Learning Center, the Scottsboro Public Library and Veterans Memorial Park of Jackson County.
Everyone who participated in Art Sunday helped benefit the community; from the attendees who paid entrance and vendors to the entrants in the photography contest and those who purchased teeshirts, hoards of people were united in the Scottsboro Three Arts Club’s cause. Art Sunday showed the giving nature of the people in Jackson County.
“This year’s Art Sunday was one of our best yet and we are so grateful to the community for their support. The day was filled with energy, creativity and spirit and we couldn’t be more proud of how it turned out,” Graham said. “On behalf of the Scottsboro Three Arts Club, thank you to our vendors, volunteers, performers and all who joined us in making Art Sunday such a success. Mark your calendars now for the 53rd Annual Art Sunday on September 6, 2026 — we can’t wait to see you there!”
