Summerlin Art Festival returns after economy prompted hiatus

By Paul Takahashi

Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2010 | 1:50 a.m.

It’s a birthday wish come true. The Summerlin Art Festival returns in September after being canceled last year, just in time to celebrate the master-planned community’s 20th anniversary.

Summerlin’s developer, Howard Hughes Corp., nixed the art festival last year due to the economic downturn. Ever since, the company has made the festival’s return a priority, said Howard Hughes Marketing Director Nikkole Liesse.

“It’s our community’s favorite event. We have over 10,000 people visiting each day,” Liesse said. “It was really important for us to bring it back.”

The outdoor jamboree of art, music, food and entertainment will occur from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Summerlin Centre Community Park, 1800 S. Town Center Drive. The free festival features original artwork for sale by more than 120 artisans from around the country.

Kat Hogan and Jerome Ellis are two local artists whose work will be displayed at the festival. The Summerlin residents spend more than half the year traveling around the country showcasing their artwork: fused glass and metal sculptures.

For them, the Summerlin Art Festival represents a homecoming.

“We’re on the road so much, this is the only local show we do,” Ellis said. “We’re excited about it. It comes down to artists presenting new and fresh art, reinventing ourselves.”

Budding artists and adults with childhood nostalgia are encouraged to chalk the pavement (for $5) alongside professional chalk artists.

Las Vegas resident Donovan Fitzgerald is one of the chalk artists scheduled to be at the event.

“It’s a great festival,” said Fitzgerald, who is known in the valley for chalking reproductions of classical paintings from the baroque era. “I don’t get too many opportunities to do chalk art in Las Vegas. I’m excited.”

Las Vegans can also enjoy food-carving demonstrations, roving entertainers and live music at the festival. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

Something new this year is the fair’s health-conscious focus. Sponsored by the Southern Nevada Health District, the festival will be smoke-free except for a designated smoking section.