This year Marsha and I volunteered at the Rockport Arts Festival. It was a great way to help out a friend, our Arts Center, and ourselves. We figured we'd be able to take a few minutes before things shut down at 6:00 on Saturday and check out some of our favorite potters who come every year.
This year was a bit different.
When we arrived at 3:00 the weather was sweltering. It was hot and humid, and I spend most of my time wiping my face and neck. By about 4:00 or so, the temperature suddenly dropped and one of those Texas downpours began. I saw people running to get under cover. Boy was I glad we were volunteering under the Kids tent.
Things were getting pretty wet and the rain was coming down pretty hard but we were all under the good sturdy professional tents. I was surprised when the rain began falling much harder and the wind picked up. At one point I saw the rain driving almost horizontal and unsecured items began to fly away.
I saw a tent with paintings and jewelry try to fly away with a couple of artists holding onto the legs, so Marsha, the Arts Center educator, and I went out to help. By the time all the art was taken down and we secured the tent from collapse, I was soaked to the bone.
People held on until it was all over or until their tent collapsed. This was a food vendor who was out in the open. Most of the artists were lined up beside the three long tents that surround the festival grounds.
I don't think anybody flew completely away but several vendors took pretty big hits with damaged art work as well as mangled displays. Both Dale Neese and V. Chin lost at least one piece, but I think they were able to batten down their hatches alright.
Here's a few people praying to the Rain God.
I love volunteering. And so does Marsha.
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