Artist Alley showcases the area’s finest artists and their creations
MADISON – Artist Alley is a juried art event that celebrates and showcases some of Tennessee Valley’s and the surrounding area’s best artists. Stroll through an amazing display of high-quality, award-winning original works of art. Take time to talk with the artists and find that perfect work of art to take home.
Artist Alley is focused primarily on the fine arts. Past vendors have created pottery, raku, photography, glass, woodworking, literature, drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture and metal smith. The artist must make all displayed artwork.
MSF will award the Joyce & Dennis Vaughn Best in Show, Madison Street Festival Merit Award presented by Madison Art Alliance, and Madison Street Festival Committee Award.
Here is a look at one of the artists planning to be at this year’s festival: Mad Cat Kreations
Jessica Ford admits to “a little bit of artist ADHD,” but shoppers at Madison Street Festival on Oct. 4 will appreciate her menagerie of creative work with Mad Cat Kreations.
“Designs for my shop include a mixture of spooky and whimsical creations where every day feels like Halloween. In addition, my photography tries to capture the hidden beauty in animals and nature,” Ford said.
At MSF, Ford will offer animal and nature photography, original spooky and pop-culture paintings, fairy skeletons, butterfly and Halloween wooden coasters, crystal spiderwebs, crystal spiders, painted wood magnets and hand-painted glass ornaments.
As long as Ford can remember, she has been involved with some form of art “to express what was going on in my mind. Whether painting, photography, crafting or mak- ing crystal spider webs,” Ford said.
Self-taught, Ford always has used her shop as an outlet to connect with people and share her love of art. “I started my shop back in 2016. I’m still learning!”
“It seems like every few months I pick up a new hobby to add to my shop,” Ford said. “While it’s hard at first, if you have fun with it, it’s not a difficult task. I haven’t inspired anyone to start, but that would be nice.”
Ford strives to keep costs low to allow selling her art at affordable prices. “Don’t be surprised if you see me at Michaels taking advantage of BOGO sales on paint and canvases,” Ford said. Her main colors are black (“lots of black”), purples and blues. “Did I mention Halloween earlier?”
“By day, I’m a receptionist at a neurology consultant office in Huntsville. By night, I’m the owner and sole-proprietor of Mad Cat Kreations,” Ford said.
Her husband Zach Ford works for Avion Solutions on Redstone Arsenal.
“I’m working solo on creating the art. Zach will paint to sell during shows to help, in addition to set up, sanding coasters and making sure I am watered and fed,” Jessica said jokingly.
“Besides my artwork, I enjoy photography for the fun of it, playing video games on Nintendo Switch, travelling to both new and familiar places, reading and listening to audiobooks and, during that fleeting moment before October, buying Halloween stuff,” she said.
Other 2025 MSF Participants are:
Sparkman HS Photography Demo Foxtails Press Warrior Forge Blacksmith Stucchi’s Jewelry Tom Young Artist & Carver Muertenation Lexie Austin Art Little People Productions Pirate Farm Books Dakota Olinger Photography Rayns Pots Mom’s Clay Co Make Like A Tree One Oak Pottery Sharkeye Della Pella Designs For Love Of Art Studio The Glass Bee/Mj Designs A Broken Image Cassey Harrell Jewelry Wings Of Grace Studios Jenna Jane Art Lzbth Creative Content Katie Gregg’s Creations Make Like A Tree Annie M. Cole Inkspitter Studio Palacio Pottery Lab Shopmoss The Craft Wizard Black Lion Photography Creative Arts By Melanie Allison Thurman Art Macy McFerren Studios Gary’s Inspirational Books Gathering Moss Studio Fine Art By Suzette Melody’s Stained Glass Studio 11 Home & Body
