Art lovers, here you go
COEUR d'ALENE — It's described as the biggest arts and crafts weekend in the entire Northwest.
Who can argue?
The 53rd annual Art on the Green, a gathering of art, music, food and community, begins Friday and runs through Sunday on the North Idaho College campus.
Piggybacking on the festivities are Taste of Coeur d'Alene in City Park and the Downtown Street Fair.
Art on the Green is free, sponsored by a local nonprofit, Citizens’ Council for the Arts. It opens at 11 a.m. Friday with a blessing and traditional dance from the Coeur d’Alene Tribe.
There will be a juried art show judged by three local judges with entries submitted by artists from all over the U.S., as well as art available for purchase.
“This show being in its 53rd year has gotten quite the reputation,” said Diane Solomon, CCA president. “We have artists that look forward to being a part of this show.”
Attendees can view and purchase art of multiple media including glass, clay, leather, wood, metal and fiber while listening to live music performances. There will also be a pottery class where participants can glaze and take home a pot for $20, as well as a children’s art garden and a scavenger hunt.
“We try to incorporate the whole family and try to make it a really great family event and opportunity to see art and listen to music that you might not otherwise get to see or hear,” Solomon said. “We work all year on this.”
The event is run entirely by volunteers, including the food booths, and all proceeds go toward funding the next year’s show.
In the last two years, around $10,000 in art supplies have been donated to local schools. The CCA also selects two art pieces from the juried show to donate, one to North Idaho College and the other to a local school, this year that school being Northwest Expedition Academy.
“It’s really nice to have a quality local art event of this caliber that brings in local artists and artists from all over,” said Jessica Bryant, a local watercolor artist and teacher from Coeur d’Alene. “It’s a great opportunity for artists to be able to share their work with the public and for local artists to connect with people in their own community.”
Bryant entered the juried show for 13 years and ran a booth for about seven years.
“I have found that Art on the Green is a great way to connect with people who have become students,” Bryant said. “It’s great for the community to have exposure to art and music and all the wonderful things Art on the Green brings.”
Hours are Friday 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
“It’s the highlight of the summer for a lot of people,” Solomon said. “It’s just a lot of fun.”
This year there will be only one entertainment stage due to damage to the NIC campus from the January windstorm. Visit artonthegreencda.com for more information including class sign-up and the entertainment lineup.
Volunteers are still needed for the event. To volunteer, call 208-667-9346 or email info@artonthegreen.org.
While Art on the Green is going on, Taste of Coeur d'Alene will fill City Park with vendors and entertainment. Just to the east is the third part of the weekend trifecta, the Downtown Street Fair.
Free shuttle buses will be available to take visitors from one location to the others.
