Arts Festival to focus on 'everything above our heads'

Each year, the Utah Arts Festival reminds Salt Lake City that art is in everything. This year's festival will have kids seeing that art can be seen in the air above.

The Target-sponsored children's art yard's theme is "Everything above our heads," and will allow children to build skyscrapers, clouds, spaceships and wildlife.

" 'Everything above our heads' is literally about everything above our heads," said Maggie Willis, art yard coordinator.

Participants can make their own planets and stars in the celestial cave as well as origami insects and birds. The instrument "petting zoo" returns this year for festival-goers to try their hands at making music.

Many of the projects can be made in the art yard and taken home with the child.

Kite masters will also teach the art of authentic Japanese kite making.

Other projects will be built upon throughout the festival, such as a planned cloud mountain range that will run through the whole yard.

Target-sponsored artist Nancy Monteith will teach lessons on things above the head in powers of 10 — 10 feet, 100 feet, 1,000 feet and so on.

Another activity expected to be popular is the Mad Hatter booth.

"They have brown paper bags that you make hats out of and they have great stuff to put on them," Willis said.

There is a small fee to make a hat at the Mad Hatter, but the crazy hats are part of the fun, Willis said.

Art yard projects are not limited to only kids.

"We get the very little kids, 6 and under, and we get college kids," Willis said. "It's really accessible to all ages. For the most part, we get ages 6 to 12."

Parents are advised to stay with their children, as many children come and go in the art yard. It's difficult for volunteers to keep an eye on them, Willis said.

All paint used in the art yard is washable.

The Target art yard will be located on the southeast side of the festival and is open from noon to 9 p.m.

In addition to the art yard, the urban art section of the festival has a variety of offerings.

Higher Ground Learning, an academic tutoring center in Salt Lake City, is presenting a combination of hip-hop, fashion and graffiti.

"Our goal is to say, 'Hey, this is an art form and be a part of it,'" said Suzi Montgomery, urban arts coordinator and executive director of Higher Ground Learning.