LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Sunday was the last day of the 69th annual St. James Court Art Show, a three-day event that helps foster future artists and raise money for Old Louisville.

Organizers estimated this year's festival drew in approximately 300,000 people and had an overall economic impact of $6 million for Metro Louisville.

Mark Bird’s uncle, Malcolm Bird, founded the St. James Court Art Show in 1957 with a dream to encourage young artists and better his community.

“My uncle was a huge encourager in my life to be an artist, and now I am," he said. "I was an architectural illustrator my whole professional life, but when I retired from that rat race, I turned into a fine artist. But I started right here on St. James Court at 9 years old.”

Bird displayed some of his first painti

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