Kimball arts fest in Park City kicks off August

The kinetic sculpture work of Andrew Smith will be on display during the Park City Kimball Arts Festival, Aug. 1 and 2 on Park City's Main Street.

Out of more than 800 applying artists, the Park City Kimball Arts Festival accepts only 220. It's kept to the same neighborhood. And at a mere two days long, it's also maintained a healthy size.

Choosy and small as it is, though, organizers said few arts festivals at middle age are in as good of shape as the Kimball Arts Festival, which officially turns 40 this Saturday and Sunday.

"We are the intimate arts festival," said Corinne Humphrey, Kimball Arts Center public-relations coordinator. "We attract people who like a mountain setting. And we're versatile. If only two people out of a family of four like art, the other two can easily go mountain biking nearby."

Park City has long been a refuge for those from the Salt Lake Valley seeking lowler summer temperatures -- Saturday and Sunday forecasts estimate Park City will be at least 5 degrees cooler than Salt Lake City -- but this year's festival adds new features that make the trip tempting as well.

Unlike its big brother, the Utah Arts Festival, Park City's event has often lagged in evening offerings. Harry O's, 427 Main St., will fill in that gap this year, hosting a festival-opening evening tonight with live music by Hoobastank, followed by a performance from Kalai and D-Nice Aug. 1. Those with festival wristbands get $5 off admission at the door.

With festival parameters set off by Park City's historic Main Street, restaurants along the street will participate for the first time this year as well, said Kimball Center education director Jenny Diersen, offering discounts to festival wristband holders.

The festival's heart, as always, will revolve around visual art along the entire spectrum of mediums, including fiber and wood. This year, the center commissioned for the festival a "kinetic sculpture" work by Lehi-based sculptor Andrew Smith. Inspired in part by the "steam punk" ethos matching vintage looks with modern technology, his 15-foot high piece will reside in front of the Kimball Art Center, where children and other festival attendees can pull its levers at the bottom for alternating blasts of air and water.

Smith, who has left his sculpture piece untitled, said it's designed to cool people off and keep them entertained. "You can play with it cautiously and get a little bit wet, or play with it and get absolutely soaked," he said. "This is definitely the most interactive sculpture I've made."