For those who need gifts or just need to shop, the Sun Valley Center Arts & Crafts Festival has it all. A weekend event in Ketchum's Atkinson Park will feature 130 participating artists and craftspeople from all over the nation. This year's event will take place Friday, Aug. 12, through Sunday, Aug. 14, and will feature live music, artist demonstrations, family and kids activities and food from local vendors in addition to more than 100 booths of fine arts and crafts.
The three-day festival has grown from a small gathering of artists to one of the top 100 outdoor juried festivals in the nation, with more than 10,000 visitors each year.
Festival Director Britt Udesen said it's more than just the art that draws the crowds.
"What makes the Sun Valley Center Arts & Crafts Festival a successful and unique event is that it appeals to adults and kids, serious art collectors and curious shoppers alike," she said. "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. You can enjoy a meal made by one of our great local food vendors. 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 arts and crafts—glasswork, fiber, jewelry, paintings, woodworking and sculpture—at a wide range of price levels. Every year brings a stimulating mix of new faces and old favorites. 2010 Best of Category winners returning this year include jewelry by Alison Antelman, glass works by Boyd Sugiki and Lisa Zerkowitz and printmaking by Nick Wroblewski. Local artists include Kerry Kjesbo, Martha Andrea and Sue Dumke, as well as other artists from around Idaho. For a full list of participating artists and photos of their work, visit www.sunvalleycenter.org.
The kids activity area is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a different project each day led by teacher and artist Danica Mattias. On Friday, kids will make windsocks. On Saturday, they can make birdhouses and on Sunday Joni Cashman returns to lead the always popular sun hat project. An informal coloring project will also be available each day.
All children under the age of 8 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 thanks to generous donors.
Artist demonstrations are fun for all ages. On Friday, Zoey Pierce will demonstrate working with encaustic; on Saturday, David DeVillier will demonstrate oil painting; and on Sunday, Lauren Street will demonstrate ceramics. See what they are making every afternoon from 1-4 p.m.
Festival hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.
Atkinson Park is 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 across from the post office.
Festival music schedule
Friday, Aug 12
Noon-1 p.m. Spare Change
1:30-2:30 p.m. Rick Hoel
3-4 p.m. Hat Trick
4:30-6 p.m. Jeff Crosby & Refugees
Saturday, Aug 13
11 a.m.-noon Bob Wire & The Fence Post
12:30-1:30 p.m. Dewey, Pickett & Howe
2-2:45 p.m. Good JuJus
3:15-4:15 p.m. Klaus Adamaschek
4:30-6 p.m. King Louie & the Chaperones
Sunday, Aug 14
11 a.m.-noon Blaze & Kelly
12:30-1:30 p.m. Cow Says Moo
2-3 p.m. The B3 Side with Carl Holmes
3:30-4:45 p.m. The Kim Stocking Band
Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com