Art by Kenny Hays is displayed at the 2017 Cooper Young Festival. Saturday marked the 30th year of the festival as many Memphians crowded Cooper Street to observe and purchase artistic works.
Memphis residents and booths manned by other Memphians packed Cooper Street Saturday for the 30th year of the Cooper Young Festival. Five booths in particular stood out the most.
Turtle Shell Pottery
Bluff City locals Michelle and Don Hailey have been selling plates, bowls, platters and mugs since 2011. The two were trying to find something to do together while sharing in their Christian faith. Each handmade piece is unique with rustic finishes and a Bible verse on the back of each piece. The Haileys create all their pieces in their backyard.
“What we sell supports missions, any kind of work that spreads the gospel of Jesus, so that’s what we do,†Michelle Hailey said.
Kenny Hays sells his pieces at Cooper Young Festial Saturday. The Memphian usually sells his pieces at Bingham & Broad on Broad Avenue and is one of six Memphis artists who demonstrates at the "RiverArtsFest."
Kenny Hays
Memphian Kenny Hays turned his hobby into 11-year business: creating unique artwork from state sale finds. He started his work by picking up pieces from railroads to make mobiles, which then progressed to musical instruments. Finally, this led him to create quirky pieces out of state sale finds.
Hays sells his pieces at “Bingham & Broad,†a corner shop on Broad Avenue. He is also one of six Memphis artists who demonstrates at the RiverArtsFest.
“It evokes a thought in other people,†Hays said. “Ninety percent of the people that walk by here never even really look this way, but there will be this percent that come straight in and look at everything.â€
Pretty Useful Co.
Clare Freeman and Allie Mounce sell enamel pens, art prints and patches. They started in October 2016 with Creative Works and have been expanding since then.
Freeman and Mounce began as a self-funded campaign that later channeled their income into experimenting with designs. The two have weekly planning sessions where they go over business logistics and spitball new designs. Pretty Useful Co. uses themes to go along with their merchandise. Currently, they have tart cards, coffee and alcohol wall guides.
“We make things that have function and also look like nice, so yeah, they’re pretty useful,†Freeman said.
The CryBaby Club
Natalie Meagan is a Memphian who sells merchandise promoting the idea that “sensitivity is empowering.†Meagan started The CryBaby Club in January 2016 to embrace her sensitivity instead of “having her feelings invalided.â€
She launched her campaign on Instagram where it then blew up, amassing 21,000 followers. The Crybaby Club sells pins, stickers, shirts, totes and anything Meagan can print a design on.
“It’s okay to be sensitive and have cute things,†Meagan said.
Cooper Young attendees stand in line in front of the Wild Bill's Olde Fashion Soda Co. truck. The New Jersey-based soda company sends this truck around the country to different state fairs and festivals.
 Wild Bill’s Old Fashioned Soda
A New Jersey-based soda pop truck also set up shop at Cooper Young Saturday. Wild Bill’s Old Fashioned Soda lets festivalgoers try their old fashioned soda pop. Customers could purchase mugs ranging from $14 to $20 and received free refills all day at the festival. The truck travels around the country to different state fairs and festivals. Â
