Local bands like Daddy Long Loin, the Rivet Gang, Jeff Sipe & Tom Bodean and the Saltine Ramblers will be wooing the crowd and disturbing Frausto's neighbors throughout the day. There'll be some limited amount of food and drink, and you can also feel free to bring your own picnic and barbecue items as well.
“We tried to do a tamale-eating contest last year,” says Frausto, “but too many vegetarians showed up.” So with a tip of the sombrero to Steve White's legendary hillbilly biathlon, the highlight of the day's festivities will be a competition consisting of pie-eating and seed-spitting. The prize for the winner is yet to be determined.
Best of all, of course, CorkFest presents a welcome alternative to the standard for-profit gallery scene. Artists like Kenny Chavez, Goldie Garcia, Jeff Sipe, Steve White, Robert Brettelle, Tami Sioux, the Corkster himself and many others will have booths set up so you can browse their wares. Artists get to keep every dime they earn from sales. Without a gallery to take a cut, art at the festival will be cheaper than you'll find in any commercial venue around town.
“CorkFest is entirely for the artists,” says Frausto. “Especially artists who aren't represented in galleries. They're the ones that need this kind of thing. … It's good karma, good fun. People bring their kids. Everyone'll have a good time.”
The whole thing goes down Saturday, Oct. 1, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Frausto's pad is located at 1024A La Vega SW. Take the Cesar Chavez exit off I-25. Just past the river, take a left on La Vega. Head south until you come to a T. Take a left, and signs and masses of people will lead you to the party. For details, call Frausto at 877-0834.
