This week Idyllwild Arts (IA) Summer Programs presents its annual Native American Arts Festival, an institution-within-the-institution for more than 20 years, returning after a hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic. Shaliyah J. Ben, director of the IA Native American Arts program and coordinator of the festival, gave the Crier some background on this year’s festival. She…

Richelle Gribble, townie, hillbilly and optimist, is a 2013 bachelor’s of fine arts graduate of the University of Southern California with a minor in social entrepreneurship and marketing. She went to Idyllwild Arts for high school, completing in 2009 what she called an immersion in making art that continues to influence her today. For the…