Alongside the state's finest craftspeople, musicians, authors, and specialty food producers, 40 selected artists will participate in Visual Arts at the Market, a Kentucky Arts Council program that adds marvelous two-dimensional visual artwork to the mix at Kentucky Crafted: The Market. Artists will be selling original paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, and mixed-media work, as well as note cards, posters, calendars and other printed products derived from their original art. A special gallery section features original art and one-of-a-kind fine craft pieces of special interest to collectors, galleries, and museum shops.

Lexington painter and print maker Twyla Martins-McLaughlin has been exhibiting at The Market since the inception of Visual Arts at the Market and probably will continue to show there in the future. "I enjoy doing it so much and it has been good for me," says Martins-McLaughlin. "It is the one time of the year that I get to see all of my fellow artists, catch up with them and see their new work. It's great for customers, too. They get to see so many artists under one roof."

To preview the work by artists featured in Visual Arts at the Market you can visit the Kentucky Arts Council's Web site at artscouncil.ky.gov/virtual.htm.

Now in its 24th year, Kentucky Crafted: The Market is a combination wholesale/retail event that features over 300 exhibitors. The Market is open to the public Saturday, March 5, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, March 6, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, South Wing A, Louisville. General admission for adults is $8.00; children 15 and under are admitted free. Parking is $5.00. A limited number of wheelchairs will be available upon request. Shuttle service will be provided from the fairground parking areas to the front of South Wing A. Visit the Kentucky Craft Marketing Web site at www.kycraft.org, for the official program guide and a $1.00-off admission coupon.

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The Kentucky Arts Council is a state agency in the Commerce Cabinet. Working in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the Arts Council invests in programs that develop vibrant communities, provide lifelong education in the arts and support arts participation. Every $1 in grant funds awarded by the Kentucky Arts Council helps grantees secure $15 in earned income and matching funds from individuals, philanthropic sources and other levels of government.