Gallery Stroll – November 2009

Utah is known for its extreme weather conditions—hot, dry summers and cold, snowy, winters—and if you’ve spent much time here, you’ve probably figured out that we don’t have much of a spring or fall season. One could compare that to the Salt Lake Gallery Stroll experience. In the art world, exhibits go from Halloween themes straight into the holiday season.

It’s not really surprising, given that Puritans made for boring artists, and one can only find so much inspiration from the flabby-necked beast served as the Thanksgiving main course. November’s Gallery Stroll includes many great exhibits, most which will run through December with a special second reception, taking place on Dec. 4. We call it “Holiday Stroll” to be PC, but it’s really about kicking off the shopping season.

Seems like we’re being rushed from one holiday to the next. On the brighter side, procrastinators such as myself get double the time to see the same exhibits.

The ones who started it all, the Salt Lake City Arts Council will host their 26th Annual Holiday Craft Exhibit and Sale, held in the Finch Lane Art Barn located at 54 Finch Lane (1325 E. 100 S.) in Reservoir Park, featuring jewelry, clothing, ceramics, gifts, toys, home decor, holiday ornaments, journals, greeting cards and much, much more by dozens of local artisans.

Along with seeing many of your returning favorites, expect to be introduced to a slew of up and coming talent. The exhibit and sale opens Dec. 4 during the annual Holiday Stroll, and will remain on display and open for business until Dec. 20 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, visit the Salt Lake City Arts Council at slcgov.com/arts.

Art Access Gallery, located at 230 S. and 500 W., will host its 15th Annual Holiday Exhibition. Works on display and up for grabs include: ceramic teapots by Vicki Acoba, oil paintings by Erin Berrett, boxes by Marcee Blackerby, resin jewelry by Kali Mellus, baskets by Connie Denton, fused glass by Sarinda Jones, textile weavings by Bernarda Lalinde, paintings by Bobbi Lewin, retablos by Jeronimo Lozano, paintings by Sue Martin, paintings by Abbas Mathlum, Ann Mortensen Intaglio & Chine Colle, prints by Jared Nielsen, paintings by Ian Ramsay, paintings by Cori Redstone, winged women by Colleen Bryan Rodgers, stoneware pottery by James Simister, painted gourds by Marilyn Sunderland and a tree of animals and bugs by artists Bill James, MiYoung Kim and Bonnie Sucec.

The opening reception will take place Friday Nov. 20. The Holiday Reception is Dec. 4 with the show continuing until Dec. 19. For more information visit artaccess.com

The Utah Arts Festival Gallery, located at 230 S. and 500 W., celebrates the holidays with the work of local artists including photographer E. Kent Eichbauer, digital illustrator, Stephanie Swift, the jewelry of Patty Street, photography by Julie Shipman, jewelry by Kayne Wankier and Prismacolor cards by Marion McDevitt. For more information visit UAF.org.

Whoever said, “You can’t go home again,” never met Kenny Riches. Utah artist, world traveler, founder/original owner of the Kayo Gallery and current curator of the Visual Arts Institute Gallery Garfield location, Riches historically returns to the Kayo Gallery to reflect on the past year and to forge plans for the upcoming year. This year, the exhibit will consist of paintings, installation and video.

The videos are vignettes put to local music created with the assistance of local artist and filmmaker T. J. Nelson. Riches says, “The show floats on nostalgia and grapples with history, both personal and learned. It’s also a kick off to a series of fundraiser parties to raise money for my first feature-length film I’m shooting next, and I’ll also have books for sale.”

Five years ago I said, “Watch out, this guy can do anything,” and he has yet to disappoint me. Kayo Gallery is located at 177 E. Broadway (300 S.). The exhibit will run Nov. 20 through Dec. 1. Concluding the month at Kayo, from Dec. 11 through Jan. 10, is “Small Works,” a juried, group show of miniscule proportions. Small works usually means smaller price tags—a great way to get a little something for everyone on your list.

Lastly, I’ve got to give props to all the Sugarhouse galleries and the Rockwood Studios. They work hard at providing a consistent presence during the monthly Gallery Strolls, and they are keeping things alive in the neighborhood during this dirt pit of economic times. One of those establishments is the Artistic Framing Company located at 2160 S. Highland Drive in the alley of shops next to the old Tap Room.

November’s feature artist is photographer Maria Palova. Her series of surrealist photos are both beautiful and disturbing, like a car accident you can’t look away from. December’s artist is photographer Jeff Clay. For more information, visit them at artisticframingco.com.

Just because you’re not in Salt Lake proper doesn’t mean we don’t want to know about your show. Send your info to Mariah@slugmag.com