American Artisan Festival draws Nashvillians with tasty treats, original art and live music

Enjoying a breezy day under sunny skies, hundreds of Nashville residents gathered in Centennial Park on Saturday to stroll through artists' tents at the American Artisan Festival and to soak up live music from nearby Musicians Corner. 

Opting for a more low-key alternative to Bonnaroo, they snacked on popsicles, kettle corn and hot dogs as they pushed strollers or considered new jewelry, pottery or wooden bowls. For some it was a way to find new apparel, for others a way to get outside on one of summer's more pleasant days. 

"I love to come here," said Cecilia Aldino, who helped her young daughters as they slurped on melting snow cones. "I feel peace."

Among the most popular artistic attractions was Shibumi Silks, where patrons could design their own water-marbled silks to use as scarves, wall hangings or table runners. In two long wooden trays filled with water, customers made swirls of acrylic paints that were imprinted on their silk, and gathering audiences cheered them on as they displayed their final products.

"Pull it out, give it a rinse and you've got a one-in-a-kind original," said Shibumi Silks artist Richard Borden, who drove to Nashville from East Haddam, Connetcuit. "It's a chance to be creative. Some people are thrilled they can actually make something great when they think have absolutely no artistic talent."

Reach Jamie McGee at 615-259-8071 and on Twitter @JamieMcGee_.