STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK
Ketchum Arts Festival patrons rocked out in a rocker made of wine barrels Saturday.
And Jane Dettwiler sold so many fairy houses she had to bring out her Christmas collection.
The 20th annual Ketchum Arts Festival is going full bore at Festival Meadow on Sun Valley Road. And patrons have one last chance to visit—from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today—Sunday, July 15.
This year’s festival, which features wooden Idaho puzzles and metal cowboy chaps, has enjoyed visits from many of those attending the annual Allen & Co. confab at Sun Valley Resort, said KAF President E.J. Harpham. And the shoppers have included the likes of business mogul Warren Buffett.
Among this year’s attractions are Michele Black’s bracelets, which feature new magnetic clasps for which she got a copyright from the Library of Congress.
Fenton Metal Design has rolled out a beautiful line of decorative vases and other products which start with a stainless steel plate and rod and become works of art thanks to the addition of sink faucets and other stainless steel objects.
Nancy Liston said she was doing a robust with new shapes and sizes of plates featuring scenes from Redfish Lake, Wagon Days and Sun Valley Resort’s gondola and village, as well as scenes of dogs skiing and riding bicycles.
“Anything with dogs is popular,” she said.
John Caccia, who heads up seed saving efforts in the Wood River Valley, has added a seed bead featuring little pea pods to his jewelry collection. And Marcia Dibbs has added celestial pieces to her jewelry collection in honor of the area’s recent designation as the nation’s first Dark Sky Reserve.
Jack Sanborn rolled out lawn chairs made from white oak slats taken from wine barrels he obtains from Central Washington wineries.
Lea Flocchini showed the new mother-and-daughter jewelry designs she’s making with her daughter Emily Reed, who grew up in the valley.
And Margery Friedlander showed some of the new lithographic photo transfers of cacti arranged in artistic fashion. The works complement her Zoe series, which is going to the Northwestern Nevada Museum in Elko. Those monotypes are based on portraits of botanicals taking by her granddaughter Zoe.
“A lot of good stuff,” said one young man as he walked by loaded down with purchases. “This is definitely better than your average art show.”