Artist Kathy M. Lovelace has announced that she will once again participate in the annual TroutFest Fly Fishing Exposition in Townsend, TN, This year, the event will be on May 19 and 20. Kathy is a local East Tennessee artist who paints Brook, Brown and Rainbow trout on small furniture and home accessory items such as stools, boxes and trays.
Her art can be also be found in The Art Market Gallery in downtown Knoxville, TN and at The Summer House home interiors shop in Highlands, NC.
TroutFest is a Fly Fishing Exposition and Fundraiser held in Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. Proceeds from this event are donated to Great Smoky Mountains National Park Fisheries Department, Friends of the Smokies Fisheries Scholarship Fund or other youth educational conservation projects. The Little River Chapter of Trout Unlimited sponsors this event as our major fundraiser and annual festival. This year the event will be one of the largest venues for fly anglers in the Southeast United States.
Some of the best fly tyers from our area will be demonstrating throughout the two day event. As many as 8 tyers will perform at one time all weekend. It’s free and the tyers are specialized in many different types of fly tying such as trout, bass, panfish and saltwater.
Lefty Kreh, Bob Clouser and other notable fly fishermen will offer free seminars both days. Here’s your chance to meet and talk to some of the most famous legends in our sport.
National Fly Tackle Manufacturers will be on hand with their gear in the National Exhibition Tent. Meet the people who work for or own these companies and see all the new fishing gear.
Other exhibitors will include fly shops, artists, non-profit organizations and government fish and game agencies including Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Troutfest was created in 2004 by the Little River Chapter of Trout Unlimted to celebrate fly fishing and promote regionally the experience provided by this pursuit. Secondly, the chapter decided that any proceeds derived from the event would go directly to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Fisheries Department to sustain and improve fish habitat within the Park.
Troutfest has contributed more than $170,000 to this effort since 2004. In addition chapter members and friends annually volunteer between 1500 and 2000 hours to insure a successful, fun and educational experience.
Additional information about TroutFest can be found at www.TroutFest.org.
The public is invited to a First Friday Reception on April 6 from 5:30-9 pm with complimentary refreshments and live music. This will be the first day of bidding on auction items and the reception offers the opportunity for the public to meet many of the gallery’s member-artists as well.