Kenneth Smith is hooked on color. Glass and color. On the jobsite, he’s a material handler, skilled at moving heavy steel components with cranes and forklifts. But at home, in the open-air, Quonset-style workshop behind his house, he spends hours handling fragile pieces of glass, placing each fragment thoughtfully for visual effect.
Smith has a mosaic take on stained glass. Mosaic is the decorative art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stones or other materials. The technique dates as far back as the ancient temples of Mesopotamia, around the third century BC.
The workspace bears signs of recent activity. Smith has been busy producing pieces to show and sell at Columbus’ 20th annual Market Street Festival, set for May 1-2. He will be one of about 250 vendors offering their wares May 2 to a crowd expected to number between 35,000 to 40,000, according to organizers.
“I like glass,” he smiled, standing in the shop, next to dozens of salvaged windows neatly propped against the walls and bins of glass in every hue. The tools of his craft surround him — cutting implements, grout, caulking devices, sponges for wet sanding, a saw.
A central table covered with a purple towel still held a few pieces of glass, remnants of a project. He picked up a shard about the size of the thumbtack head.
“I don’t throw any glass away, even a piece as small as this,” he said. “This might be the final piece in something.”
Wood, windows, faith
Smith calls his enterprise “A Different Window.” His business card says “Welcome to the Wonderful World of Color.” It appeals to artist in him. But his medium was not always so colorful: His talents first emerged in wood.
“When I was little, I used to always piddle around with wood,” he explained. Even today, he does some furniture pieces by special order, sometimes incorporating mosaic design into the project. If it had not been for a friend, Barry Craig, Smith may never have discovered his penchant for glass.
“I taught him how to do woodworking, and he introduced me to glass,” the craftsman said.
He credits, too, his deep faith. Smith is also a minister and works some with children at Vibrant Church in Columbus.
“A lot of my work has a biblical theme,” remarked the man whose art is inspired by the Bible story of Joseph and his coat of many colors.
The glass comes from multiple sources — other glass artists, people he meets at shows, the Internet. Windows are often gathered in similar fashion.
“Sometimes at craft shows, people come up to me and offer glass or old windows,” he explained. He makes his own stencils, and sometimes his own frames.
Market Street Festival is one of Smith’s favorite shows. He especially likes having his wife, Gina, and daughter, Chelsey, helping him.
“As an artist it’s a blessing to know that I have a family that is supportive — and just as creative as I am,” he said.
Anniversary milestone
Vendors like Smith are a big part of Market Street Festival’s success in reaching its 20th anniversary, said Festival Chair Amber Brislin and Main Street Columbus Executive Director Barbara Bigelow.
“While we always welcome new vendors, volunteers, artists, musicians, sponsors and visitors, we are thankful to those that have been with us over the years, the faithful that come back each year, those that have continued to grow with the festival,” Brislin remarked. “We contribute many of our successes as a smooth-running festival to just that, the hundreds that serve in every capacity year after year.”
Named a Top 20 event in the Southeast for 17 years, Market Street Festival will feature 220 arts and crafts vendors from at least 14 states, as well as 30 food vendors. More than 20 musical acts will entertain on four stages.
When it came to selecting the anniversary music lineup, organizers researched two decades of the festival’s musical history.
“We selected a variety of groups that have played multiple times, made significant musical contributions to Market Street Festival over the years, and acts that really epitomize what it’s all about — community, celebration, music and good times,” Brislin explained.
A free Friday night concert beginning at 6 p.m. at the Riverwalk will showcase an “all-star lineup” of veteran festival performers. The theme continues Saturday, with music enhancing festivities. Watch for the music lineup and other details in the festival guide coming in Friday’s Dispatch.
Bigelow said that Main Street Columbus is thrilled to continue to offer the community and visitors such a premier quality-of-life event. “And no festival would be possible without the support of its community, sponsors and volunteers,” she emphasized.
“The 20th anniversary is reason for celebration,” added Brislin. “While thousands will fill the streets, just as they have for the past 20 years, many new faces will join us, too, as the festival continues to grow and thrive for hopefully many more years to come.”
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Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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