A weekend of wonders
<p>Melody Sather, right, of Way Up Clay talks to Pamela Martin and Tom Hendershott about her horse tail hair pots, which were fired using sugar and horse hair to create the effect seen on the pots. Way Up Clay of Boise, ID made their second appearance at Art on the Green this weekend.</p>
<p>Scott Dodson lightly sprays a section of an 11-foot-tall sandcastle during Art on the Green on NIC's campus on Friday afternoon.</p>
<p>Jennifer Vanvalkinburgh sits with her two dogs Duke, center and Chubs during Art on the Green on Friday afternoon.</p>
<p>Travis Lovejoy walks with his five-year-old daughter Georgia, during Art on the Green on NIC's campus on Friday afternoon.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - Since JoAnna Larsen was in seventh grade, she has been her grandpa's little helper.
"When I was young, he gave me a hammer and I started hitting on wood," she said with a smile Friday afternoon. "Once I got old enough, he taught me how to use the actual tools, and actually be able to do everything, not just smack wood."
Now that she's 19, she's handy in the woodshop and proud to represent Jo and Joe Crafts, the business she and her grandpa, Joe Galloway, built together. They create whimsical wooden items, such as birdhouses that look like miniature vintage travel trailers and turtles that turn into tables. "We have so much fun just kind of going wild, trying stuff out, seeing how it all goes," she said.
They had booths at the Coeur d'Alene Downtown Street Fair in previous years, but this is their first time selling their wares at Art on the Green on the campus of North Idaho College, where Larsen is studying to be an accountant. Her grandparents are giving her the proceeds from the event to pay for tuition, which is a bonus, but she said the best part is being able to be creative and make memories with two people she cherishes.
"It's a lot of fun to spend time with my grandparents, just to do that and learn a skill," she said.
The sounds of accordions and guitars float through the trees, the scent of kettle corn and handmade soaps waft on the breeze, the sun glints off of glittery glass and copper creations - the 47th annual Art on the Green is here.
The three-day event features more than 160 artists, musicians, performers and more who will be entertaining and captivating people throughout the weekend as they explore and exhibit a multitude of art forms. Many of the artists are onsite to interact with festival-goers. It's an open-air market and a gathering place for a wide variety of interests and talents, with numerous activities and opportunities to create new art and learn about different materials and artistic processes.
"I actually went here because I really wanted to make stuff," said Lexi Owens, 7, of Post Falls. "I paint mostly, but I usually use glitter glue."
She and her mom, Fawn Owens, took in all the sights and sounds as they wandered over to the children's zone.
"I thought we would come down and check out all the art, and she really wanted to see the kids' area," Fawn said. "I like the photography. It's amazing. It almost looks like a painted picture."
Cathy Kretschmar of Post Falls is one of the more than 500 volunteers who are helping to run the show. It is her first year as a volunteer, and she's happy to be a part of this iconic Coeur d'Alene event.
"I love Art on the Green, and I figured I should support something I love," Kretschmar said. "I love that there is a medium for so many artists, somewhere where so many artists of different types can gather, and that common people, like me, can see (their art) and have a chance to buy it."
Art on the Green is sponsored by the Citizens' Council for the Arts and the majority of the money invested in Art on the Green goes back into the community to encourage and support the arts.
The festival continues today on the NIC campus from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Info: www.artonthegreencda.com.
Just around the corner in Coeur d'Alene City Park, people can enjoy live music, food vendors and more at the Taste of Coeur d'Alene, organized by the Idaho Panhandle Kiwanis. The Taste of Coeur d'Alene goes from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. today and continues from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Info: www.panhandlekiwanis.org.
Even more artwork, activities and more than 250 merchants of whimsical wares and practical products can be found along Sherman Avenue at the Coeur d'Alene Downtown Street Fair from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The Street Fair is organized by the Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association. Info: www. cdadowntown.com.
All events are free for spectators. The Downtown Association is advertising on its website a free shuttle bus between events. For information, call 415-0116 or email info@cdadowntown.com.