This is my first Decatur Arts Festival. It’s like Decatur on steroids.

It’s not high brow stuff, for the most part. I suppose you could make the argument that the painted port-o-johns come close to being subversive social commentary. But then you realize that someone probably thought it was cute to paint them.

They were right.

The most profound piece of art I found wasn’t under a tent. It was in the Greene’s parking lot.

At first I was confused. I thought I had found a million dollar bill. Upon closer inspection, I realized million dollar bills don’t actually exist and none of our U.S. presidents were named Jab.

But that would be pretty awesome.

I visited tents and grabbed business cards from the artists that interested me. Most had prominent signs that said “no pictures” so I’m posting photos I took of their cards. If the artists have a better photo I could use, please send them to me and I’ll post them.

Big World Photo

This was the first booth I visited and I met the artist. Lorri Honeycutt who hails from Austin, Texas. Her photos have a pop sensibility that I like. The humor reminds me of a “Far Side” cartoon.

All of the photos purport to capture a moment of some fantastic event, like a ski lift attached to an ice cream cone. What really makes her photos work is Honeycutt’s clever positioning of her characters.

Plus, I’ve always been fond of the idea that little people live inside my walls and dance around in my food when I’m asleep.

Now I have proof.

Jellykoe

I really dig “Adventure Time” and this Columbia, S.C.-based independent toy company has managed to capture that vibe. The company and its products are made by Joe and Kelly Shull.

The Jellykoe toys are good for kids and for explaining your dreams to your therapist.

The company also sells pop surrealist artwork. The paintings are an intriguing mixture of rainbows and sad ghosts.

In the 80s and 90s, most of my toys were based on shows made to sell toys. The toys were strange for all the wrong reasons. The Ninja Turtles had a Turtle Blimp, but they would’ve had no practical way to purchase one or store it. He-Man’s battle harness offered poor protection and looked like a S&M costume.

Jellykoe toys are strange for all the right reasons. They make me feel feels and think thoughts.

The festival continues tomorrow.

I’ll be volunteering for the DeKalb History Center handing out brochures making sure people don’t steal stuff.

Please behave.