Art only part of attraction

Art is the centerpiece, but snootiness is destined for disappointment at the Omaha Summer Arts Festival.

The three-day downtown event celebrated its 35th year this weekend, and people-, kid- and dog-watching seemed every bit as appealing Saturday as the art booths and musical acts.

Heidi Brown's big, gray-brown Weimaraner named Jaeger received as much attention as watercolors and jewelry. People stopped to pet and even kiss the friendly dog. “He's popular,” Brown said as she and Jaeger looked for an ATM machine so she could withdraw cash for a pottery purchase.

The festival concludes today at 5 p.m.

Darline and Jimmy Redd of Omaha walked along the five-block Farnam Street corridor about 11:30 a.m. They were quite the opposite of art speculators.

“I'm waiting for the rain to come,” Jimmy Redd said. “Then I don't have to spend anything.”

That attitude suited his wife just fine. “If I have to dust it,” she said, “I don't want to buy it.”

Vic Gutman, who runs the festival, strives to attract a broad range of people with a variety of attractions — a children's fair, numerous food options and musicians, and art that ranges in price from $15 to $1,000 or far more.

“Every festival should have a vision,” Gutman said. “The goal here was to have quality work at every price level.”

Gutman said the crowds as of midday Saturday appeared to be about average for the Summer Arts Festival. He expects 60,000 to 80,000 to attend.

Jimmy Redd got his rain. It fell for 15 minutes late Saturday morning, then cleared off and left a moderately cool lunch hour. The afternoon proved overcast and warm.

Last year the festival temporarily closed after being pounded by heavy wind and rain. It was the first Summer Arts Festival shutdown since a 1976 storm.

“I like Omaha — except for the weather,” said Barry Jepson, who makes stoneware pottery and has been coming to the Summer Arts Festival for 33 years.

“Great show, good sales,” said Jepson, of Harveyville, Kan. “It's one of the better-run shows that I do every year.”

The art items at the festival included metal dragonflies and buffalo paintings, photos of wolves and bobcats, and brass and copper hair accessories. The artists also sold pop-can airplanes, wooden moose and geese, and paintings featuring country lanes. Some 135 artists displayed their work.

In David Switzer's booth, where he sold various leather items, he hung a sign: “Unattended children will be given an espresso and free puppy!” He joked that most parents wouldn't want that.

Toddlers clung to parents' arms and necks. Mother Charlene Pierce pushed her 2-year-old twin sons, Jaylen and Jaden, in a stroller. Jaden slept and Jaylen was wide awake.

Somewhat older kids weren't so easy to manage. “What did I say? Stay here,” a father said to a boy.

If art, crafts, music and children's activities held no appeal, there was Greek food, Mexican food, almonds, hot dogs and noodles. There were massages and yoga, coffee and ice cream, for this was an arts festival for everyone.

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