Winter is over and the promise of green grass, colorful flowers and warmer, longer days is wrapped in every gentle breeze. April is a month of new beginnings, transformations and the celebration of life. It’s only fitting that the April Gallery Stroll reflects these same sentiments.

Art Access Gallery is celebrating life by honoring nine artists who have lead long full lives. The Eighty Something show focuses on the recent work of nine Utah artists in their eighties: Dorothy Bearnson, Ursula Brodauf, Anna Campbell Bliss, Edie Roberson, Bob Kleinschmidt, Woody Renzetti, Doug Snow, Colleen Parker and Pilar Pobil. Through their continuing work, these nine Utah artists speak of the need they have to keep art in their lives.  All would say that engaging in art keeps them involved in their communities and interested in life. Most importantly, they stand as examples of the on-going contributions that senior citizens make to our society. Eighty Something will open on April 17 and hang through May 7. The artist reception is Friday, April 17 from 6 – 9 p.m., during the Salt Lake Gallery Stroll. Art Access is located at 230 South 500 West.

Another Art Access artist, Emmanuel Makonga, is celebrating a new beginning in a new country without fear of censorship or worse, death.  Makonga was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 1962. He graduated from a college in Kinshasa, where he received a degree in fine arts. After graduating he worked as a painter, sculptor and cartoonist. It was his cartoons that caused Makonga trouble. His political cartoons ran in several newspapers throughout many African countries and contained strong opinions that ran counter to the government. Makonga left Africa in 2003, in part to protect his family.  He moved to Salt Lake City in 2008 to start a life for himself. In addition to preparing for the Art Access exhibit, Makonga is now looking for a publisher for his new comic book dealing with the protection of the environment. The exhibition will open on April 17 and hang through May 7. The artist reception is Friday, April 17 from 6 – 9 p.m.  Art Access is located at 230 South 500 West.

Dan Christofferson and Trent Call have teamed up in April to fill the Kayo Gallery with their unique energy, variety and mad skills. Satisfying the traditional artist inside while providing immediacy and accuracy, Christofferson bounces between conventional drawing and digital illustration.  This show, like ones in Christofferson’s past, will include a visual vocabulary which allows the viewer to connect the dots for a story line that runs throughout all the pieces.  Call, being spontaneous and aloof, won’t give too many details away about his work. It could be graffiti art, classical portraits, landscapes or even better, a little bit of it all!  Kayo Gallery director Shilo Jackson has admired both artists’ work for some time and is very enthusiastic about the show. “They both have such unique styles, I thought they’d pair well together.  They’re both so proficient and cutting edge,” she said.  The exhibition opens April 17 with an artist reception from 6 – 9 p.m., The Kayo Gallery is located at 177 East 300 South.