STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Debra Bonsack titled her new series of acrylic paintings “My Happy Place” and asked adults to tell her what their happy place was as children.

The expressive acrylic paintings capture the innocence of children displayed in hopscotch, fishing, even painting. Some are couched in books that she rescued from a bookstore that was going out of business; others, in cutouts.

Bonsack’s paintings are the perfect antidote to the unsettled times of the coronavirus pandemic. And they can be seen at the Ketchum Arts Festival going on today and Sunday at Festival Meadows on Sun Valley Road.

“We’ve had a nice flow of people,” said sculptor Marjolaine Renfro, as she watched shoppers in masks perusing the art in the booths.

This year’s festival is the only one for many of the artists because of the coronavirus. For some it will be  a rare source of income this year.

Many artists who have shown in Ketchum galleries are there, including sculptors Dave LaMure Jr. and Ken Newman. There are also old favorites such as ceramic artist EJ Harpham, who has new coasters featuring Sun Valley’s trademark sun and bicycles, as well as bowls and plates featuring the love passage from Corinthians.

The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 12.