Mayfest welcomes fewer artists, but 120 ready for the weekend
TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — Setup was underway Thursday for Mayfest, which kicks off Friday at 11 a.m.
The festival normally brings in artists from across the country and world, but there will be some changes this year because of COVID-19.
Juried Artist, Constance Conroy, brought her art to Tulsa by way of Houston and California.
She travels across the world selling her oil paintings.
"I go to Monterey, California, Sonoma, California, I've gone to London," Conroy said. "That's hard to believe, but I have. Perth, Australia."
COVID put a wrench in her plans and the bottom line of two sisters.
Sue Froebel and Christine Beene are from Texas and own Sisters Sassy Glass.
"It hurt us because we do the shows so we can buy more glass and so we can take classes on how to learn different techniques," Froebel said. "And we go to a glass convention."
They normally would travel the region for shows.
"Everything was canceled, no shows last year, none," Beene said.
Mayfest will be their first in a long time, but not all artists wanted to make the trip.
Heather Pingry, Mayfest organizer, said usually there would be about 25 more local artists and 20 or so more juried artists.
"We've got fewer artists, a little bit more space amongst them though too," Pingry said. "But still 120 artists to come check out."
That worked in Mayfest's favor for social distancing, Pingry said.
The artists don't seem to mind the set-up and are happy to be out again.
"You know there's a lot of safeness. I don't feel unsafe at all. It's open-air, which is great," Conroy said.
Conroy and the sisters saying they've been vaccinated and are ready to get back to normal.
Mayfest is recommending masks and several businesses in the area are still requiring them.
