Today we’d like to introduce you to Carter Beard
Hi Carter, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
High Point Arts Fair began in 2009, opening adjacent to the newly-opened Shelby Farms Greenline in the center of Memphis and in the center of Old East Memphis’ High Point Terrace neighborhood. An event to showcase artists’ and artisans’ work, it was the brainchild of Mary Winger Bowen, a well-known local fine artist who lived in High Point, and her husband Pete Bowen, a local craftsman Mary’s vision was “anything handmade is fine, as long as it sells,” and that was the premise for the next ten years. The event was always planned as a late spring and early autumn, twice-per-year opportunity to bring the neighbors out, passersby in, and promote locally-made art and artisanal goods. Some people participated once, some participated several times, and two were there every time Mary put the signs out along High Point Terrace, Walnut Grove, and Highland, promoting the Fair.
In 2020, Mary succumbed to colon cancer, which she’d bravely fought for years. Carter Beard, proprietor of Riverside 1844 Artisanal Foods, a local line of luxury canned goods and a boutique caterer, as well as a long-time resident of High Point — who’d participated in every iteration of the Fair since its beginning — approached Pete and asked if he could take over the Fair and keep it going as a memorial to Mary. Pete eagerly agreed, offering suggestions and ideas for improvement. Pete died of a broken heart six weeks after Mary, so Carter felt compelled to make the Fair a memorial to both its founders, who’d worked so hard to keep it going for so many years. Mary and Pete’s family agreed, and continue to support the Fair to this day, visiting each time it’s held to see its growth and visit with returning artists.
Carter’s vision for the Fair was to make it a little bigger than Mary’s — taking the momentum available despite the pandemic shutdown and growing the event to include a larger variety of artists and artisans, including food trucks, and making the neighborhood event attract folk from other parts of the city to visit, shop, and experience what High Point can offer. “Everyone in town knows about High Point as a neighborhood. Not everyone has visited to see what the excitement is about,” he says. “Long-term, I’d love to see it grow to be similar to the East Buntyn Art Walk … but that takes a larger group of volunteers for both planning and execution. I’d love for this Fair to be all over the whole north half of the neighborhood twice a year, not just in one space!”
That “one space” is an exceptional piece of property belonging to Jeff and Meg Flaherty, who are kind enough to invite the Fair into their side yard twice a year, actually enjoying the crowds it attracts and the street parking all in use. The Flahertys shop through the Fair, speaking with their “guests” and making sure everyone is enjoying their day. Jeff makes sure the grass is cut and the bushes are trimmed before the artists and artisans arrive twice a year, popping up tents and setting up tables in a setting that appears designed just for such a use.
The High Point Arts Fair (Spring) 2025 event will be 9a to 3p on May 10, The High Point Arts Fair (Fall) 2025 event will take place from 9a to 3p on September 20. For more information, email highpointartsfair@gmail.com, or HPAF@yahoo.com.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We have had weather issues, of course. We’ve been blessed in the fact that we’ve had more sunny days than rainy ones! Because of lockdown and confusion during the pandemic, we had to skip both dates in 2020, and the first one in 2021, High Point Arts Fair was able to return in October, 2021 — a day of rain showers — but no one seemed to mind. Neighbors and shoppers came out in force, and the event was again successful.
Space for the event was iffy, early on … before Jeff and Meg Flaherty purchased the property that we’re able to use, the site was somewhat overgrown, the grass was spotty and not well-maintained, and setting up a bunch of tents and tables was difficult. That’s all changed, though — Jeff maintains the space beautifully, and loves having the neighbors stop by to swing, sit on a bench in the sunshine, or use his picnic tables.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I started Riverside 1844 Artisanal Foods in 2007 as a way to make hostess gifts and thank you gifts using homegrown fruit and vegetables from my backyard in High Point. People started asking for refills, which got expensive, so I began charging … which no one gave a second thought. Making absolute top quality pickles, preserves, jams, craft mustards, and more became a challenge to myself, and a line of luxury canned and baked goods was born. I moved into a commercial kitchen to expand production and be able to get high-end shops to carry my goods, and began applying to some of the larger fairs and festivals around town at the same time. Riverside has become a staple in a number of Memphis businesses … starting with a display in my dear friend Linda Morrow’s High Point Salon. Small-batch, handmade, VERY high end products are my forte. I love cooking with wines and liquors, too. Coming up with ways to get champagne or bourbon into my clients’ breakfasts and dinner parties is always rewarding!
I was the first food artisan accepted into the VECA Art Fair, into the East Bunty Art Walk, the Rhodes College // Overton Park Farmers’ Market, and quite a few more. Opening those doors was challenging at times, but certainly worth it. And It’s been fun! I was able to work with First Congregational Church, helping develop their lunch program for the needy in exchange for professional time in their kitchen — right day, right time, right connection right experience, because they generally only share space with non-profit and not-for-profit businesses. That was several wonderful years. After that time was up, a kitchen in Cordova became available, so I could maintain my business in a licensed kitchen with no issues. I’ve become somewhat of an expert in the canning arena, creating a number of recipes that people really seem to like. And participating in, then taking on and growing the High Point Arts Fair has been a great way to meet new people, both artists and customers alike.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
There are two. Determination — making sure my business is small and smart has kept me from taking on some projects I’d love to have done, but it has also allowed me to survive both a significant recession — the Crash of 2008 — and a lengthy lockdown — the chaos that followed the COVID pandemic’s introduction in 2020 that lasted through most of 2021. And passion — my desire to make sure the foods I work so hard on are things that appeal to returning and new clients; that they’re both delicious and appealing, and that everything I sell is considered to be worth the price to every person who buys my goodies, whether it be for gifts or for their own use. My research is extensive, as is my testing; I want to ensure that I’m not introducing or creating a product that is anything like something already available to my clients and customers. Someone who hires me to provide a dinner knows that what they’re getting is made specifically for them, not something from the restaurant supply company that’s just been dressed up a little.
Pricing:
- Jars $10 — $25, depending upon the product
- Baked goods — $10 — up
- Catering — ask for pricing
- Sympathy meal gifts — ask for pricing
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riverside1844/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HighPointArtsFair and https://www.facebook.com/Riverside1844
