Fest features visual arts

    The Southwest’s largest free four-day visual arts and entertainment festival kicks off in Fort Worth Friday, April 18.

   The 17th edition of the MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival will span nine city blocks and feature 200 artists and performers, along with cuisine from area restaurants along the Gourmet Fare.

   The festival is a juried art show, where artists compete for prize money. Nearly 1000 entries are received a year, and a panel of judges selects the 200 finalists to display their work at the festival.

   Performers from across the globe will be strolling Main Street as well as performing on three main stages.

   The Stalker Theatre Company from Sydney, Australia, will perform throughout the weekend.

   Creating a theater of dimension, they performed during the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics to a worldwide audience. They use stilt walkers to convey stories of Australia.

   Ladysmith Black Mambazo, South Africa’s greatest vocal harmony group, performs Saturday, April 20, at 8 p.m. The group performs a capella mbube harmony and has collaborated with several major artists, including Paul Simon.

   Oleta Adams will also perform at the festival. Since her platinum debut album Circle of One, 1990, she has received three Grammy nominations. Her music has deep roots in gospel and is inspired by journeys of the heart.