Artist Steve Moya Looking for Success on the Greene

About halfway through the first Art on the Greene festival held last year, artist and organizer Steve Moya took one look at the dozens of tents, the ton of artwork, the bands, the food, the people, and said, to no one in particular, "I don't see why we can't do this again.'

Neither did a number of artists who are returning for the second Art on the Greene, slated this year for March 22-24 at Richard Greene Linear Park.

More than 20,000 people are expected to pour into the park for the three-day gathering that will again feature some of the finest artists and prominent local live entertainment, which turned out to be one of the unsung pleasures last year.

This time around, Escape, WOW U2 (a tribute to U2), blues singer Andrea Dawson, Mingo Fishtrap and the UTA Jazz Orchestra are but a few of the artists taking center stage.

As for the art, it is just about anything and everything you can imagine from over 75 artists. Ceramic. Oils. Pencil. Mixed Media. Painting. Jewelry. Metal. Handcrafted works in glass, clay, leather, wood, metal and fiber can be purchased directly from the artists who conceived and created them.

"Art on the Greene is quickly rooting itself in the Arlington community as a premiere event,' said Pete Jamieson, Director of Parks and Recreation. "It's really turned into a must-attend event for residents and visitors. We're proud to support such a unique endeavor and assist by providing a beautiful and scenic venue to connect art, music and culture.'

Indeed, Art on the Greene is helped by its location, which is nestled within the trees and sculptures of Caelum Moor, and sandwiched between the two sports stadiums - Cowboys Stadium to the west and Rangers Ballpark in Arlington to the east.

Standout artists such as Gary L. Williamson and his paper sculptures and Amy Taylor and her oil, acrylic and watercolor paintings are expected to be there and add to a rather diverse field.

Williamson wowed customers - and other artists - last year with his booth full of life-like human facial contours that served as sure-fire conversational pieces.

Moya said he had envisioned this sort of art festival for years, partly because Arlington didn't have such an affair while other cities did and partly because he felt so many local artists wanted a festival close to home.

"We want this to become one of the festivals that artists pencil on their schedule,' Moya said. "There's a circuit of festivals these artists attend and if yours isn't worth attending they more than likely will go somewhere else, even if this one is close by.'

Art on the Greene will be open from 3 to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.