Art in the Park draws more than 100,000 attendees

Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Home News

Artist Tony Longo’s ceramic fish design catches the attention of Bradley Snow during Art in the Park on Saturday. Longo’s unique creations drew hundreds to his booth as his style of “art that heals through laughter” made passers-by smile.

By Cassie Tomlin

Monday, Oct. 6, 2008 | 7:39 p.m.

Art in the Park 2008

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Despite a storm damaging 30 booths and lower spending amid a nationwide economic crisis, Art in the Park made much more money this year than last year, Boulder City Hospital officials said.

Though revenue tallies hadn't been finalized Monday, Wendy Christ-Kyser, the Boulder City Hospital Foundation director and fair organizer, and Yvonne Waggner, the hospital's chief financial officer, said the event brought in more than last year's $143,000.

The 46th annual Art in the Park, a two-day show benefiting the Boulder City Hospital Foundation, drew about 100,000 people to browse 360 artists, food booths and bands throughout downtown parks.

The event Saturday and Sunday overcame more than the weather and the timing of the presidential campaigns, always a less fruitful period for art shows, Christ-Kyser said.

Neither she nor Waggner heard any complaints about the cost of shuttles to downtown parks from overflow parking at the old airport hangar on Nevada Highway, they said. The rides cost $1.25 each way.

This year, because of federal charter laws, the Regional Transportation Commission couldn't provide the bus rides for free as it had for seven years.

Also, ArtEve, the inaugural pre-festival reception at Boulder Dam Hotel on Friday, drew about 200 people, and raised extra money for the Boulder City Hospital Foundation.

Storms Saturday night had Christ-Kyser and company up until 2:30 a.m. Sunday calling artists whose booths had been toppled, she said.

Rain and wind destroyed some artists' collections, forcing them to pack up that night and ditch the second day of the show, she said.

Others reported decent sales this year, though as Christ-Kyser noted, "People are leery of spending $2,000 or $3,000 on a painting this year."

Bob Wilfong, who brought his work to Art in the Park for the third year, said his bronze pieces survived the storm, and he even sold a couple.

The Las Vegas banker-turned-sculptor with a background in biology said, considering the current political and economic situation, he was content with the show.

"People can justify buying functional art," he said, motioning to next door booths selling pottery and jewelry boxes. "My work is functional, but it performs at a different level."

Wilfong said his figures and shapes are healing and allude to a different consciousness. "But people don't see that when they're hungry."

Even if he hadn't sold a thing, he said, his goal as an artist was realized if his sculptures had a positive effect on people.

"There are places, like this festival, to go to enjoy art," he said. "Because of what art gives (artists,) we have a responsibility to give back in a public place."

Cassie Tomlin can be reached at 948-2073 or cassie.tomlin@hbcpub.com.