John Tyler to hold second annual Fool for Art Festival this Saturday

The community is invited to John Tyler Community College's Midlothian campus on Sat., Apr. 21, for Fool for Art, a day of lively, artistic and educational fun. The festival, which will run from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., is free and open to the public.

Fool for Art will feature 70 arts and crafts vendors, food and music, as well as more than 80 free classes, educational hands-on activities and displays for all ages. Attendees can learn how to take better digital photos, how to write their family histories and how to choose plants for their gardens. Aspiring artists can watch a series of demonstrations ranging from watercolor painting to oil portraiture to ceramics. Families will be given the opportunity to use science to decorate t-shirts, make paint and create super elasticity balls. History buffs can enjoy a series of lectures and book signings, or help children create books and visors with a Jamestown theme. Kids can work out their creative energy in the castle moonwalk or in hula-hoop contests.

Special guests will include Sen. John Watkins and Del. Lee Ware, who will participate in an open forum at noon; Dan Roberts of NPR's "A Moment in Time," Nancy Wright Beasley, author of "Reflections of a Purple Zebra: Essays of a Different Stripe" and others. The Virginia Museum of the Fine Arts and the Richmond SPCA will also take part in the festival.

For a list of arts and crafts vendors and a complete program of classes and activities, visit www.jtcc.edu/foolforart. For more information, contact Lisa Kendrick at foolforart@jtcc.edu or 594-1527.