Visual artist Erin Westenskow Berrett creates still-life oil paintings on surfaces that start out with her first making collages on canvas, and then painting over them. On Monday, she woke up tired, having spent the previous four days at the Utah Arts Festival.

"It hit me for the first time this morning," she said. "I might be a little worn out."

This was Berrett's first time at the festival, which ran from Thursday until Sunday at Salt Lake City's Library Square on 400 South and 200 East.

Festival organizers said Monday that 77,074 people attended the event this year. The weather stayed beautiful for all four days, which hadn't happened in the previous five years. People stayed longer and enjoyed themselves, said the festival's executive director, Robyn Nelson.

"People all around said this just feels so easy this year," Nelson said.

Berrett said she sold more than 50 paintings at the festival. She also won the Best of Show Award from the Salt Lake Gallery Association.

The tents were coming down Monday, and the 130 visual artists had headed home. The 55 short films had concluded their run in the auditorium, and TRAX had returned to non-festival hours.

The Arts Festival was an event for everyone, Nelson said.

"Everybody's the same in a pair of shorts," she said. "I always say that a pair of shorts is the great equalizer."

After the July Fourth holiday, the festival planners will be back in the office, preparing for next year. The 2007 festival will be June 23-26 at Library Square. As for Berrett, she said she intends to be there.

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