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Carole Mikita Reporting "Come to Your Senses." That's the motto of this year's Utah Arts Festival, which opened today at noon at Library Square.
Today marks the 30th anniversary of the festival. Back in the 1970s it was an experiment.
It combines the works of visual artists from our state and around the country, with performing artists who will sing or dance on the stages on Washington Square.
It was something other cities around the country had tried, and in 1976 a group of creative Salt Lakers said, "We can do that."
An outdoor showcase for the visual and performing arts, that was the first Salt Lake Festival of the Arts. The city closed a portion of Main Street.
Margaret Smoot/ director, Salt Lake Festival of the Arts: "We had a parachute squad, literally, who came down and strung the wires and hung the parachutes over the main stage, which was right smack in the center of Main Street."
Two years later, it moved to West Temple and Symphony Hall Plaza. The festival grew in size and popularity with an original musical one year.
Olivette Trotter/ director, Utah Arts Festival: "I used to always wonder if anybody was going to come. I used to have nightmares that no one was going to come."
The newly-opened Triad Center became the festival's new location in 1984. That year artists created a giant sandcastle at the entrance. The next year, the highly-promoted Sky Art was a bust when huge helium balloons deflated.
1986 brought fences and an admission fee and a community birthday cake celebrating 10 years.
In 1992, a windstorm toppled some of the scaffolding and damaged booths.
In 1996, artists past and present created the largest mural ever displayed in Salt Lake City.
The following year, the festival celebrated 20 years, still attracting artists from around the country.
Trax construction at Triad brought another move in 2000, to the Utah State Fair Park. Not everyone liked the site or the searches. Numbers were down.
The festival's fifth location.... Library Square. It seems to suit both buyer and seller. Harold the Heron made from scrap metal hails from Lewiston, Utah. And hand-made and painted shoes are from Prescott, Arizona.
Mark Carter, visual artist, Prescott, Arizona: "I've been a part of this festival for about eight years now and it's just a wonderful place to be. The people are very supportiv of th arts here."
The Utah Arts Festival is on Library Square, open from noon to 11 pm through Sunday. Tickets are 8 dollars for adults, 5 for seniors, children under 12 free entry.
And I know you're wondering about food. The booths are on the south end of 2nd East. Water is sold throughout the grounds. It is hot, so don't forget sunglasses, sunscreen, and sunhats.
