Consider it therapeutic road rage.
Imagine having eight cars at the disposal of your creative expression on which you can draw, write poetry or make any other form of social commentary.That is just one of the many activities that can be found at the Utah Arts Festival in Salt Lake City Thursday through Sunday at the Triad Center.
The 22nd annual Utah Arts Festival presents its patrons with this year's theme "Art That Moves You," literally bringing much of the entertainment off the stages and onto the streets among festivalgoers.
R. Lee Roberts, assistant executive director of the festival, said the idea behind this year's theme is to showcase the issues that deal with something everyone in the Salt Lake Valley has dealt with - freeway construction.
"It's almost become a goal of everyone's to get around the city because of the construction on every street," Roberts said. "Art, by its nature, is supposed to focus on contemporary issues and reflect the things that a culture faces in everyday life. That's why we wanted to focus on construction as our theme this year."
Roberts said that festival patrons can expect a lot more activity around them this year. In celebration of the roots of performance art, the festival will be peppering the crowd with internationally renowned street performers.
"We have a plethora of different street performers that will very much take performances off the stage and into the streets," Roberts said.
While there are new experiences planned for this year's festival, many of the favorite exhibits will return, including international food vendors, artist booths and literary programs.
More than 125 artists will fill the street with tents full of hand-crafted art, allowing attendees to take in a wide variety of art.
"Culinary artists" - more than 25 - will provide a sampling of cuisine from around the world.
Music ranging from jazz, gospel, Top 40, Celtic and classical will be featured by award-winning performers during the festival.
Roberts said the festival's international award-winning environmental program, the eARTh Team, will return for its second year. The program is aimed at educating Utahns about the importance of caring for the environment.
Festival organizers are expecting nearly 90,000 people to attend this year's festival. Roberts said attendance last year was down significantly, mainly because people didn't know how to get around the road construction.
The festival is open from noon to midnight Thursday through Saturday and from noon until 10 p.m. on Sunday. All four days of the festival will be free of admission to children 12 years and younger. Admission for seniors (age 62 and older) is $2. The adult entrance fee is $5. During lunchtime Thursday and Friday, noon to 3 p.m., admission is $2. Call the Utah Arts Festival at 322-2428 for more information.