Arts
I Dream of Wires: Modular Synthesis with Solvent
Modular synthesizers have played an integral role in both the popularization of electronic music and avant-garde sonic experimentation, and are now, more than ever appreciated among musicians. In the independent documentary film I Dream of Wires, Canadian-based electronic musician Solvent (Jason Amm) traces the history, demise and resurgence of this modular mindset with its peculiar subculture’s leading artists and manufacturers. … read more
Gallery Stroll: The Great, Great Salt Lake
For February’s Gallery Stroll, I recommend rekindling the romance with our own backyard by visiting three profound exhibits that act as love notes to the Great Salt Lake, all at the Utah Museum of Fine Art on the University of Utah campus. … read more
Jimmy’s Oscar Ballot
The time has come again for celebrities to fist fight to the death for that golden statue that can make or break their careers. It’s also time for you to challenge me, and see who can predict more of the night’s victors! Remember, it’s not who should win, but who will win. … read more
DVD Reviews
DVD reviews for ’83 US Festival Days 1-3 and What Makes Me Tic. … read more
BADKIDS @ the UMFA
Look who is at the museum—The Bad Kids! As multi-media selfie-installations and gender integrated performance art, I think they’ll feel at home here. … read more
19th Anniversary of Trent Harris’ Plan 10 From Outer Space...
Utah Museum of Contemporary Art is putting on an exhibit celebrating the cult filmmaker Trent Harris, which is open free to public. The exhibit opened on January 17 and will run until April 26. Included in this celebration was the free screening of Harris’ sci-fi satirical interpretation of Mormon history, Plan 10 From Outer Space, followed by a book signing. … read more
The Night Contains the Day: An Evening of Rumi’s Poetry...
For those who attended last year, don’t expect a rerun of the same pieces. According to Klerk, “They never do the same performance twice.” Barks chooses the poems spontaneously the day of, and Darling improvises in response. This reflects the essence of Rumi’s philosophy, which revels in the impulses that happen on the spur of the moment. By playing on their personal friendship, the duo makes manifest the love shared in every relationship, whether it be personal, professional, romantic, friendly or spiritual. … read more
Two to Watch: Gretchen and Paul Reynolds
They’re committed artists. Every room is clothed in images—landscapes of northern Utah, paintings for painting’s sake, personal photographs and points between. A leaved dining room table has been converted into a table tennis court, and that’s how our interview begins. Gretchen makes coffee for us and opens a beer for herself, while Paul beats me several times at ping-pong. Then we sit down to talk. … read more
SLUG Style: Nicole Morris of Omitted Youth
Far from the cookie cutter and suburban wardrobes of her Michigan hometown, marketer and designer Nicole Morris feels that her rock n’ roll and bohemian-infused style that always stuck her out like a sore thumb has found a better home with the eclectic style of Salt Lake. … read more
Salt 9: Jillian Mayer
Jillian Mayer, a south Florida–based artist and Sundance Film Festival alum, is the ninth artist to be featured in the Utah Museum of Fine Art’s ongoing Salt series, which highlights contemporary work from emerging artists. Much of Jillian Mayer’s work investigates the fragmenting consequences of Internet usage through some of its most ubiquitous media—catchy pop songs, humorous YouTube videos, chat rooms and ephemeral linkages. … read more