Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Center holds yearly art fair extravaganza

Artists, musicians, crafts and more are available to all


By SABINA DANA PLASSE
Express Staff Writer

The Sun Valley Center for the Arts 2009 Annual Arts & Crafts Festival Entertainment will take place at Atkinson Park in Ketchum. Photo by Willy Cook

Enjoying summer means attending festivals of all kinds, especially the Sun Valley Center Arts & Crafts Festival. The small town of Ketchum holds one of the nation's top 100 outdoor juried festivals, which has seen over 20,000 visitors at past festivals, and it includes 130 participating artists from across the country.

This year the show celebrates its 41st year in Atkinson Park in Ketchum Friday, Aug. 7, through Sunday, Aug. 9. The fair is one of the Wood River Valley's favorite events of the summer. It is filled with art, music, artist demonstrations, family activities and food from local vendors

"It appeals to adults and kids, serious art collectors and curious shoppers alike," said Festival Director Britt Udesen. "You can learn about a new medium by asking an artist questions or watching a demonstration. You can listen to music all weekend long, for free and kids can make free art projects they'll be proud to bring home."

Hundreds of artists apply every year for the chance to display and sell their handmade fine arts and crafts—from glasswork, fiber and jewelry to paintings, woodworking and toys—at a wide range of price levels. Every year brings a stimulating mix of new faces and old favorites. Last year's Best of Show Artist Sasha Samuels (jewelry) is returning, as are other 2008 winners Carol Lebreton (ceramics), Shelia Evans (drawing) and Ray Hartl (photography).

"It's amazing to me that we're not only able to bring great artists to our small town but that we can make the festival accessible and exciting for the whole community," Udesen said. "We're so lucky to have great teachers willing to spend the weekend in the sun getting covered in glue and glitter as well as local artists who will take the time to explain to visitors how they make their incredible work." 

The kid's activity area is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a different project each day led by a guest artist. Kids will make masks with Kathleen Fergus on Friday, and they can make felt gardens with Beth Rogers on Saturday. Joni Cashman returns to lead the popular sun hat project on Sunday. In addition an informal coloring project will also be available each day.

All children under the age of eight are welcome with an adult who is ready, able and willing to help them create art. Children ages 8--12 can work on their own but cannot leave the area unattended. Supplies are free of charge.

Artist demonstrations will include a different artist each day from 1-4 p.m. Susan Ward of Boulder Mountain Clayworks will demonstrate ceramics on Friday, R. C. Hink will demonstrate woodworking on Saturday and Deb Gelet will demonstrate fiber art on Sunday.

Festival hours are 10 a.m.--6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, and Saturday, Aug. 8, and 10 a.m.--5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9. Atkinson Park is located in west Ketchum at the corner of Eighth Street and Second Avenue. Parking is available at the Hemingway Elementary School lot. Overflow parking is available at the Simplot lot (future home of the Sun Valley Center for the Arts), across from the post office. For details visit sunvalleycenter.org.

Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com




 Local Weather 
Search archives:


Copyright © 2024 Express Publishing Inc.   Terms of Use   Privacy Policy
All Rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Express Publishing Inc. is prohibited. 

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.