Gallery Stroll – February 2009

Why do people live in Utah? Men’s Fitness Magazine recently rated Salt Lake City no.1 on their “Fittest Places To Live” survey. Is it our parks and recreation that keep people in Utah
happy and healthy?

Maybe it’s the fact that people are 202 percent more likely to play table tennis than any other state (is beer pong the same as table tennis?), are 351 percent more likely to practice kickboxing and are 102 percent more likely to use walking as an exercise. Walking is just a brisker version of strolling right? Hence Gallery Stroll is good for your health and can make you fit – that is if you stay away from the cookie plate.

Gallery Stroll is an open invitation on the third Friday of every month for the public to peruse the local art galleries, mingle with artists and possibly take home an original work of art. Put on your power walking shoes and grab your SLUG as we point out the highlights along the way.

Alpine Art has been at 430 East and South Temple for 25 years yet they are as fresh and feisty as lime in Sangria. This chic gallery is welcoming and disarming with a vast selection of high-quality art in all price ranges. February marks its first exhibit that’s exclusively photography, featuring work by Shalee Cooper, Stan Evans, Ed Firmage, Lauren Hansen, Lisa Mitchell, Daniel Hendricksen, J.P. Jespersen, Kermit Johnson, Dave Laub, Dennis Mecham, Oove Orozco, Eric Overton, Jelisa Ljn Peterson and Kelly Schaefer.

It’s a timely show as photography is changing and lines are being drawn between traditional film and digital processes. The majority of these photographers do not use digital enhancement — instead, they work harder at finding interesting subjects, bold colors and whimsical angels to captivate the viewer.

Alpine Art framer and former gallery owner Lindsay Orgill put photography in focus by saying, “Photography is a fascinating media because it is not just about having an artist’s eye or a sense for color and composition. It’s about timing, patience and persistence.’’ The show opens Feb. 20 with an artist reception from 6-9 p.m.

The VIEW Foundation (Vision to Inspire and Empower Women) invites you to its second annual art benefit on Feb. 13 from 6-9 p.m. featuring Cat Palmer, Wren Ross, Mary Lynn Alldredge Ehrengard, Andrew J. Byrnes, Chaise Payan, Anne Spencer, Cori Redstone, Emily Capito, Chelsea James, Jeff Pugh, Brooklyn Morgan and Erin Westenskow Berret. The VIEW is a nonprofit that promotes awareness and empowerment for women and children affected by domestic violence in hopes of breaking the cycle of abuse. This one-day show will take place at the Kayo Gallery on 177 East 300 South in downtown Salt Lake City.

Whether you’re power walking or strolling, there is always a lot to see and do at Gallery Stroll. Keep it fresh, buy local and support art!