Authors: Mariah Mann Mellus
Gallery Stroll: Art Makes a City
What brings a city to life, and what gives it its heart? Historians and anthropologists credit community gathering spaces like libraries, schoolhouses and city halls. Typically, when I want to know about a city, I ask a city dweller. When you speak to a resident about the heart of the city, the conversation usually turns to merchants, restaurants, artists, theaters and performers—the makers and doers who make up the city. … read more
Gallery Stroll: Art Squared
If you want to see what someone is really made of, look into their heart. At the heart of Utah is The City Library, The Salt Lake City and County Building and The Leonardo, sitting in historic Washington Square, adjacent to Library Square. It’s used for everything from the Pride Festival to the Salt Lake City Marathon, from local open-mic performances to international traveling exhibits like Body Worlds at The Leonardo. I often find myself in this neighborhood, attending events, enjoying the library, or—yikes—paying a parking ticket, but for those of you who are not familiar with the Squares, let’s take a stroll. … read more
Gallery Stroll: Living the Authentic Life: Stroll, Ride, Stroll
With today’s global Internet content, instant Twitter feeds, social media boasting and a sickening amount of over-sharing, I find more and more people looking for an authentic experience—something they can’t manipulate or recreate online. They seek a movement, a cause or an event they can get behind that will connect them to their community, where they can actually see results locally. For those people, I offer you Gallery Stroll—a chance to celebrate the thriving arts community, engage with the makers and keep your money local by purchasing a piece of original, authentic art. … read more
Gallery Stroll: Art is Springing Up Everywhere
The dainty flowers push through the hardened ground, past the decayed winter foliage to find sunlight and warmth, announcing it’s spring! Often you do not see the single bud emerge, or even the little patch, but eventually, when your garden is filled with bright flowers, you realize the metamorphosis is complete and you are surrounded by life and beauty. I liken the journey of the bud to that of artists, toiling away in basements and old garages, sheds and drab spare bedrooms, creating things of beauty and, when finished, they emerge with works that encourage, amuse and beautify the world around us. … read more
Gallery Stroll: Connecting to Art
This month, I delighted in finding the connections within the gallery exhibits, artists, themes and methodology. As I tied them together, I felt looped in—I hope you will, too. … read more
Gallery Stroll: Turning The Corner
Utah is home to some amazing contemporary art venues and artists. Take, for example, Central Utah Art Center’s (CUAC) featured artist for the month of January, Steven Stradley. … 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