Cd'A brings the crowds
Tom Groesbeck of Spokane has been oil painting for about six years and this year is his first having an artist booth at Art on the Green. The event opened Friday and runs through Sunday at the North Idaho College campus. HANNAH NEFF/Press
Locals and people from around the U.S. flocked to City Park on Friday to enjoy the Taste of Coeur d'Alene which runs until Sunday. HANNAH NEFF/Press
People view artwork at the juried art show during Art on the Green on Friday at the North Idaho College campus. The show runs through Sunday. HANNAH NEFF/Press
Chris Efstratis from Sacramento, Calif. runs his clay booth at Art on the Green on Friday at the North Idaho College campus. HANNAH NEFF/Press
One of Sacramento artist Chris Efstratis's clay frying pans on display at Art on the Green on Friday at the North Idaho College campus. HANNAH NEFF/Press
People flocked to North Idaho College campus on Friday to view art created by artists all over the U.S. in the Art on the Green event which runs through Sunday. HANNAH NEFF/Press
The Smash Hit Carnival from Spokane performs on the bandshell in City Park during Taste of Coeur d'Alene on Friday. HANNAH NEFF/Press
The Coeur d'Alene Street Fair on Sherman Avenue will run through Sunday with vendors, food and crafts. HANNAH NEFF/Press
Downtown Coeur d’Alene boomed on Friday with locals and people from all over the U.S. attending three festivals that will run through Sunday.
The Coeur d’Alene Street Fair on Sherman Avenue, Taste of Coeur d’Alene in City Park, and Art on the Green on the North Idaho College campus feature vendors, art of all mediums, live music, crafts, food and more.
“It’s awesome,” said Bev Rudd as she watched a live performance at Art on the Green. “I am an art show junkie and the quality of work is amazing.”
Rudd said she and Mike Maquet were kayaking on the lake Thursday, saw the volunteers setting up tents and decided to come back to check it out.
“We just went full-time in an RV, so everywhere is our house right now,” Rudd said, originally from San Diego. “It’s the best of both worlds.”
Rudd said the first thing she does as they travel is search out an art show in the area.
“This is extremely well done,” Rudd said.
“And we’ve been to art shows all the way across the country,” Maquet added.
Chris Efstratis, an artist from Sacramento, said this was his second time having an art booth at Art on the Green. Efstratis works with clay sculptures which he starts on the pottery wheel and then alters, glazes and hand paints. He said he finds his inspiration from music, traveling, relationships, food and other artists like Picasso.
“I just try to get inspired by them and make my own little twist on stuff they make,” Efstratis said.
His work included clay frying pans containing sculpted food.
“I wanted to be a chef before I became an artist so it was kind of a meld of the two,” Efstratis said.
After Sunday, he will pack all his art back into his van and continue to travel the western U.S. for shows.
Another artist, Tom Groesbeck of Spokane, displayed his oil paintings in a booth, mostly started as plein air paintings of landscapes throughout the Pacific Northwest.
“I guess when the light is right, that’s what catches my attention,” Groesbeck said, motioning to his landscapes. “But the light is constantly changing."
Groesbeck said he has been painting for six years and this was his first time having an artist booth at Art on the Green.
“I think it’s great,” Groesbeck said, noting that it was hard to sell artwork without a gallery presence. “I must have 40 paintings here, maybe 50. Where else can I do that?”
Over in City Park, regional food vendors as well as art, crafts and live music kept the crowd busy with Taste of Coeur d’Alene.
“Some of these people are paying really good money to come enjoy the taste and they seem to be excited,” said Bill Sever with the Panhandle Kiwanis, a nonprofit organization that has put on the show for about 10 years.
Sever said the money from the profits goes toward supporting local families.
“With the money we are able to support a lot of families and their children,” Sever said. “And that money goes right back into our community.”
Food trucks in the park sold a range of food including wood-fired pizza, teriyaki stir fry, gyro burgers and of course, huckleberry ice cream.
On Sherman Avenue, Lois Moore of Hayden made her way through the vendors with a shopping bag for her purchases. Moore said she has been coming to the festivals for about 20 years and especially loves Art on the Green.
“They have the same things and I always manage to buy something new,” Moore said. “I have my favorites I go to. I always buy a mug from a certain potter, art from a certain dealer. Just to return the favor and see what’s new they have this year.”
Moore said she thinks the festivals are a good thing for the town because they bring people, both local and people from all over.
Included in those visiting the area was James Little, a veteran from California.
“I had a really fun time with the vendors,” Little said. “This is one of the finest places I’ve ever visited, just beautiful people and an excellent town on the lake.”
Little said he has been visiting for about five days and is planning to move to Coeur d’Alene soon.
“I just wish that everybody would be as friendly as the people are here,” Little said. “I have never been so enamored by the people.”
Little added that he hoped people moving to the area would treat it well.
“I’m impressed by this place,” Little said. “Coeur d’Alene is special. It really is.”
