Fair will host 900-piece art fundraiser

SANDPOINT — Take 30 local artists, give them the challenge of creating 30 works each and set the price at $30 per piece and you not only have instantly created one of the largest art galleries in the region, you’ve got one heck of a powerful fundraising vehicle on your hands.

That’s what members of the Bonner County Fair board are counting on as they prepare the 30-30-30 Art Show & Sale for this year’s annual gathering, scheduled for Aug. 20-24 at the fairgrounds.

In total, this collection will include 900 works, from paintings to photographs, featuring many of the area’s top names in the art world. No need to grab the calculator to figure out how much money is at stake should they all sell – the fair board has got that covered.

“Don’t worry, we’ve got it all figured out,” said Elaine Linscott, one of the newest members to join the board and the driving force behind the fundraiser. “It will come to about $27,000.”

The seven-member board is hoping to raise a substantial amount of cash to fill what Linscott called “a very large gap” between the funding provided by the county and what it actually takes to run the fairgrounds. On top of that is a to-do list that includes repairing the roof over the food concessions area and general maintenance and grounds work needed to keep the property in good condition, she explained.

Staying on top of these matters is critical, the board member pointed out, because the fairgrounds is one of the most-used public areas in the county.

“There are events most every weekend, all year-round,” she said. “No one has any idea how much that facility is used, 12 months out of the year.”

The barns and arena see plenty of action through rodeos, draft horse shows and 4-H events, but the main exhibit building runs on the busiest schedule, housing large crowds for the annual Lost in the ‘50s concerts, Sandpoint High School Grad Night, job fairs, business meetings, banquets and sports activities such as indoor soccer during the winter. All of the rentals generate income, but the funds go directly to the county.

“It isn’t all in our pocket,” Linscott said, adding that inspiration for the art show came from the need to make up the difference between operation costs and trickle-down income.

Similar fundraising projects have been used elsewhere, including other county fairs in the region, according to the fair board member. Sandpoint’s art-rich environment made the 30-30-30 project a natural fit, even with the large number or works required to pull it off.

“Many of our artists have been working on this since January or February,” Linscott said. “After they thought about it, they probably said, ‘Oh, my gosh — 30 paintings or photographs? That’s a lot!’

“But it wasn’t a challenge to find enough artists,” she continued. “This area is packed with good painters and photographers.”

It didn’t hurt that the 30-30-30 committee also was packed with denizens of the arts, including Bonnie Shields, Connie Spurgeon, Janene Grende, Elise Creed and Bob Linscott, Elaine’s husband.

“I’m the only fair board member on the committee and the only non-artist,” she said. “But somebody has to be in charge of the administration side of things.”

From all appearances, that side has been well covered. To accommodate the large art collection that will go on sale during the fair, the revamped one of the rooms in the food concession area, turning it into a temporary gallery that Linscott promised will be an impressive space to view art.

“Before, we just had booths in the main exhibit building, but this is going to be a whole, different venue,” she said. “We’re creating a new gallery and it’s going to be uptown. And that’s in addition to all the artwork that will be judged in the main building.”

In the Linscott household, at least, presents given out this year will come from the walls of that very gallery.

“There’s something about receiving an original painting or photograph for only $30 that makes this a good time to do your Christmas shopping and gift shopping,” Elaine said. “These works become treasures — especially if you know the artist.”

Along with raising money for fair updates and operations, she is confident that the high-profile display of local talent from the visual arts realm will raise awareness about what the Bonner County Fair has to offer beyond fun, food and farm animals.

“I want city folk to understand that we have more than two- and four-legged animals at the fair,” said Linscott. “Our thrust is to make people realize that the fair is not just for country folk and friends, it’s for everyone.”

The 30-30-30 Art Show & Sale offers visitors a chance to expose themselves to art on Aug. 20-24, from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. The gallery will be open with works on sale during each day of the fair.