Louisville UnFair

The UnFair might be tiny compared to the St. James Court Art Fair, but it is still mighty.
And this year, especially, it was so packed with people that it was hard to easily make your way through it.
I would say that the UnFair needs to find a bigger location, but the location — Mag Bar’s backyard — is such a big part of the event.
But to take a step back, for those who are unaware, the UnFair is the smaller cousin to the St. James Court Art Fair. It’s a rebel, a renegade, and seeks to showcase local artists who maybe don’t have the hundreds of bucks to fork over to be a part of the big show.
Plus, there’s something so damn-​the-​man about thumbing your nose at St. James by holding an art show just outside its boundaries, like it’s saying it doesn’t need to be declared «art» by the St. James organizers to be shown in Old Louisville during the first weekend in May.
That spirit is a bit of what makes Louisville so «weird,» and while I very much appreciate and enjoy St. James, there is a definite place for the UnFair as well.
And as for the items at the UnFair, they run the gamut — everything from paintings to tchotkes to prints to scarves to artistically mutilated Barbie dolls to Star Wars-​inspired and KFC-​themed art. I’m still sad I didn’t get the painting of Colonel Sanders’ likeness on the side of a fried chicken wing. It’s an experience to take in all that this small area includes, and you can find some great deals if something tickles your fancy.
There are also some picnic tables in the middle of the space, and if you’re lucky, you can find a great place to sit out for a few minutes.
Plus there’s always Mag Bar, just a few steps away, ready with a cold brew.
The UnFair is not to be missed!