The Sun Valley Center for the Arts' 39th annual Arts & Crafts Festival is set in a new venue that The Center hopes to keep. This year, the festival will take place Friday, Aug. 10, through Saturday, Aug. 12, in Atkinson Park in Ketchum, at the corner of Eighth Street and Second Avenue. The festival hours are 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
"It will be a great change and even closer to home base," said Kathryn McNeal, festival director.
The festival received more than 900 applications from artists and craftspersons located all over the country, including applicants from Canada. McNeal said it was the largest number they have ever received.
"It's very competitive," McNeal said. "I don't think anyone would have guessed how successful it could be."
Older than The Center itself, the festival began as a small gathering of artists in 1968. Today, it is considered one of the top 20 outdoor juried arts and crafts festivals in the nation. It always includes regional artists.
"Our executive director, Sam Gappmayer, selects six additional local artists and during the jury process local artists get an extra point," McNeal said. "It's all about quality. The jury will go through slides of work and rank them as they go. They make sure there are different price points represented. We make an effort to be a well-rounded festival. Last year, we started a people's choice award. We gave awards and invited those artists back automatically."
This year, artists from the Wood River Valley and Stanley include painter Melissa Brown, glass artist Paul Downey, photographer Thad Gerheim, jeweler Kary Kjesbo, fiber artist Karen McCall and painter Debbie Edgers Sturges.
The Center's small staff keeps the festival going with more than 100 volunteers who do everything from running the T-shirt booth to giving artists breaks so they can eat lunch.
"It is one of the greatest events of the summer. This year we are excited to include five local food vendors," McNeal said. "We also welcome non-profits and gave booths to the first six who responded to us."
The festival is a perfect family event beyond a shopping delight, with a kids crafts area, artists' demonstrations and live music including a special performance by Frank Vignola and the Gypsy Grass Collective.
"There is a great variety of work making for a very well-rounded show from fine jewelry and furniture to brooms and birdhouses," McNeal said.
Bring a picnic but not your dogs. Parking is available at Hemingway Elementary School, adjacent to the park, and the Simplot lot, across from the post office.
For more details, call 7260-9491 or visit sunvalleycenter.org.
< <
Festival entertainment
Friday, Aug 10
Noon--1 p.m. Rick Hoel, acoustic folk
1:30--2:30 p.m. Kim Stocking Band, country/ folk
3:30--4:30 p.m. Jim Paisley, swing guitar
5--6 p.m. Bruce Innes Trio, acoustic folk
Saturday, Aug. 11
Noon--1 p.m. Aaron Baker, pop
1:30--2:30 p.m. Will Bell, acoustic folk
3:30--4:30 p.m. Fred Crabtree/Jim Paisley, blues
6--7:30 p.m. Frank Vignola's Gypsy Grass, bluegrass/jazz (featured festival performer)
Sunday, Aug 12
Noon--1 p.m. B-3 Band, jazz
1:30---2:30 p.m. Public Radio, acoustic folk
3:30--4:30 p.m. Boulder Brothers, acoustic folk
Festival artists' demos
Friday, Aug 10
11:30 a.m. Richard Parrish, glass
12:30 p.m. Tom Stewart, woodwork
1:30 p.m. Nick Wroblewski, printmaking
Saturday, Aug 11
11:30 a.m. Nicky Falkenhayn, jewelry
12:30 p.m. Tanya Gerard, mixed media
1:30 p.m. Laura Matson, fiber
2:30 p.m. Kim Howard, painting
Sunday, Aug 12
11:30 a.m. Dede Draper, woodwork
1:30 p.m. Lucinda Terzieff, fiber
2:30 p.m. Debbie Edgers Sturges, painting
· There will be a free kids craft area open from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. each day.
The 39th annual Sun Valley Center Arts & Crafts Festival has moved to a new location, Atkinson Park in Ketchum.
