BY KAREN BOSSICK
It’s named Atkinson’s Park, but sometimes it seems that the Ketchum park should be renamed Microburst Alley. Every summer, it seems a short but sudden downpour or windstorm hits the area—and always during the annual Sun Valley Arts and Crafts Festival.
This year artists were wrapping up the first day of the three-day festival when a microburst of wind hit just after 5 p.m. picking up one of the artist’s tents and blowing it onto another’s.
The one tent was fine once it was picked up and set back on its space, but Erin Linton’s tent was crushed underneath, and some of her framed originals were smashed.
“There was nothing you could do to salvage it,” said Ketchum artist Barbara Kline, whose booth was nearby.
Happily, 20 of the artists and volunteers stayed that night to set Linton up with loaner gear. And Festival promoter Art Daves had the good sense to order pizza to fuel them during their endeavor.
“What could have been my worst day really turned out to be an awesome thing showing the power of community and kindness,” said Linton.
One of Linton’s friends has started a Go Fund Me account to raise $2,000 for Linton to replace the tent and pay for some of the damages to her artwork.
“Making a living as an artist is hard enough, but it’s even worse when you lose a ton of your art to a freak accident,” said Wood River Valley resident Jeff Platt.
Linton runs Orphan Girl Fine Art out of Ashland, Ore., her artwork inspired by creatures she sees when she steps out her back door to explore 75 acres of towering pines and firs.
“She is an avid lover of wildlife especially birds and has devoted countless hours helping them, working with Badger Run Wildlife caring and rehabilitating hundreds of birds,” said Leah Fairbanks.
To donate, go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-erin-linton-after-art-show-accident.
