For the week of August 8 - 14, 2001

Arts and Crafts Festival kicks off

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By ADAM TANOUS
Express Arts Editor

Thirty-three years ago, the Sun Valley Center Arts and Crafts Festival opened for the first time, likely in the humble way many such festivals do. It has in that time, however, achieved national recognition among artists and art lovers.

Charles Phillips, who created this photograph titled "Buffalo Around Geyser in Winter Yellowstone National Park, 1993," will have his work exhibited at the Sun Valley Center Arts and Crafts Festival.

This weekend an estimated 7500 people will stroll through the exhibit set up on the Sun Valley Resort esplanade, Friday through Sunday. The festival hours are 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily.

This year, more than 670 artists applied for 130 spaces in the anonymously juried show. With no predetermined quotas set for artists in certain categories, the festival organizers have come up with a wide array of styles and talents to be shown. There will, for instance, be fiber art by Kate Beck of Seattle, thrown clay lanterns by Jerry Conrad and historical figurines made by artist Nicario Jimenez of Naples, Fla.

In addition to the art exhibits, there will be artists’ demonstrations on everything from bookmaking to Polaroid manipulation. Many of the demonstrations allow for hands-on experience for the audience.

Families should make an effort to join the "Children’s Craft Class and Parade" led by Hillary Crocker. Every afternoon, Crocker will teach children costume making and then lead them in a 3:30 p.m. parade.

Other highlights of the weekend include musical entertainment by Patty Larkin and Erica Wheeler.

The Sun Valley Center Arts and Crafts Festival is free of charge. For more information and schedules, see the special Arts and Crafts section beginning on page S1 or call the Center at 726-9491.

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.