Gallery Stroll: May Art Be In Your Life
Art
Illustration: Pat Bagley
The Salt Lake Gallery Stroll takes place on the third Friday of every month. Galleries throw open their doors and welcome the public with extended hours of 6–9 p.m. and food, conversations and excellent art for all! With so much to see and do on a single night, I offer to you, lovely SLUG readers, my decades of Gallery Stroll experience and the resulting opinions that I just can’t seem to keep to myself.
You might feel a strange force pulling you in the direction of the Gateway Shopping District on May 4—it could be your shopping addiction, but more likely, it’s the Utah Art Alliance‘s annual Star Wars / Heroes & Villains exhibit. Presented in partnership with Comic Con, this exhibit draws the best of pop culture and comic artists in Utah. Two receptions will be held: The first event on May the 4th (be with you) will focus primarily on Star Wars with special guests Darth Vader and the 501st Legion of Storm Troopers. During the official Gallery Stroll on May 20, the reception will focus on the theme of heroes and villains. A costume contest will be held both nights with prizes awarded based on accuracy and connection to that particular evening’s theme. For more information, visit the Urban Arts Gallery website at
urbanartgallery.org.
Purchasing art can be a scary concept. Do you buy for the name or because you truly love the piece? What percentage goes to the gallery? Will you have the opportunity to meet the artist? Art Access Gallery provides not only a touch point for art patrons, but also access to people with special needs. From small children to adults with disabilities, Art Access facilitates accessibility to art. In order to offset some of the costs of these programs, the gallery hosts an annual 300 Plates fundraising show. Local artists donate their time and talent to create a work of art on a recycled printing plate. Plates range in price from $85 to over $400 and are hung in sequential order according to cost. A plate preview is held Monday, May 16, through Thursday, May 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. At 7 p.m., ticket holders are given a wristband for a lottery to go in and buy the plates. The event playfully pits your desire to get a bargain against your desire to donate to this wonderful organization, making it hands down the most exciting fundraiser I go to all year. Buying art not in the budget yet? The show, in its entirety, remains on display through the official Gallery Stroll on May 20. For more information or to purchase gala tickets, visit accessart.org/support-us/300-plates-fundraiser.
In addition to the above-mentioned shows, there are literally dozens more gallery openings in May, and it’s also Bike Month. I’ve prepared a list of galleries grouped by neighborhood for those looking to roll rather than stroll. For that list, please check out slugmag.com. Grab a bike, grab your friends, slow your roll and go for a stroll.
SLUG’s Cyclist Friendly Gallery Stroll – by Neighborhood:
Downtown West Side
Art Access – 230 South 500 West #125 – www.accessart.org
Utah Arts Festival Gallery – 230 South 500 West #120 – www.uaf.org
Rio Grande – 300 South Rio Grande Street (455 West) – www.riogallery.org
God Hate’s Robots 314 W 300 S #250 – www.godhatesrobots.com
Urban Arts Gallery – 137 South Rio Grande Street (455 West) – www.utaharts.or
Downtown East Side
CUAC – 175 E 200 s. – www.cuartcenter.org
Mountain West Fine Art – 177 East 200 South- www.modernwestfineart.com
Atelier AFA Foto Digital – 234 South 200 East – www.atelierafa.com
Mod a Go Go – 242 East South Temple – www.modagogo.com
Alice Gallery – 617 East South Temple – www.alicegallery.org
Alpine Art – 430 East South Temple – www.alpineartinc.com
Mid City
David Ericson Fin Art – 418 South 200 West – www.davidericson-fineart.com
Tanner Frames – 18 East 800 South – www.tannerframes.com
Horne Fine Art – 142 East 800 South – www.hornefineart.com
Red Kiln clay Gallery – 393 East 1700 South – www.redkiln.org
Mariah M. Mellus
Education and Community Programs Manager | Utah Film Center
e: mmellus@utahfilmcenter.org