Carving Out a Popular Niche
Artists to hold 3-day fest to celebrate crafting with former ‘nuisance’ wood.
The 2021 Texas Mesquite Arts Festival returns to Fredericksburg Friday through Sunday, Oct. 8-10. The world’s finest mesquite wood artisans come to town to showcase their handcrafted mesquite products. Items range from large furniture items such as beds, dressers and chairs made entirely from mesquite, to craft and gift items such as beautifully turned lamps, delicate scroll work, handsome pen and pencil sets, unique Christmas tree ornaments and sculpted vases. Artists from across the country will gather on Marktplatz for a three-day celebration of the exquisite and attractive mesquite. The festival, like mesquite wood itself, has come a long way since the first event in 1992. Fourteen mesquite woodworkers gathered then for a seminar. And, they weren’t the only ones showing interest in mesquite.
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Many locals dropped in to see what was up and to try to buy some of their work. That’s when they realized Fredericksburg was the best place on earth to have a Texas Mesquite Arts Festival. The Mesquite Arts Festival has become one of the top events in Fredericksburg. Organizers expect thousands of visitors over the weekend. Once viewed as a nuisance, mesquite has become the darling of architects and retailers. Mesquite’s growing appeal comes in part from the high profile offered by this festival. Additional articles praising mesquite’s quality and value have appeared in such magazines as AAA’s Texas Journey, Texas Highways, Veranda, and Fine Woodworking. Several artists that regularly exhibit at the show were featured in the September/October 2010 issue of Texas Journey.
Woodworkers from around the state feature their works at the Mesquite Art Festival, such as this this table and chair set, which took Stan Austin and his wife, Karen six months to construct. Mantles, doors, flooring, art items, dining sets, tables, and other furniture are increasingly requested in mesquite. Prices for raw wood and finished pieces have soared. The Texas Mesquite Arts Festival is free and open to the public. Hours are Friday, noon to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Items are available for purchase, with food and drink sold on the grounds. Free parking surrounds Market Square in downtown Fredericksburg. More information on the Texas Mesquite Art Festival is available at www.texasmesquiteartfestivals. com, or by calling the Fest Office at 830-997-8515.
Fall&Winter2021
