Two Arrows Through My Heart: Coleman Barks and David Darling

Two Arrows Through My Heart: Coleman Barks and David Darling
By

The pairing of the two friends was really interesting to watch again, as it seems they balance each other in their friendship much like Shams did with his student Rumi. Throughout the night, Barks kept emphasizing that the beloved is in everything. He talked about watching Allen Ginsberg read “Howl” in 1955 and that he’s “Seen the greatest minds prowling the street for a fix, and that’s the beloved, too.” On the plane over to Utah he watched Louis CK for the first time, and Louis CK is the beloved, too.  … read more

Kingsbury Hall Presents Gallim’s BLUSH and a New Model for Touring to Utah

Kingsbury Hall Presents Gallim’s BLUSH and a New Model for...
By

Whatever judgement one makes of Gallim’s 2009 work “BLUSH,” this is clearly an historic moment in the development of new models for presenting live performance in the state of Utah–– if Kingsbury keeps partnering with the College of Fine Arts departments in this way, their offerings might get a whole lot more interesting. … read more

SUITE: Women Defining Space 02.13

SUITE: Women Defining Space 02.13
By

Four years in, SUITE continues to be one of a handful of places where emerging dance artists can get a foothold and start work in our city. … read more

Gallery Stroll: The Great, Great Salt Lake

Gallery Stroll: The Great, Great Salt Lake
By

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

BADKIDS @ the UMFA

BADKIDS @ the UMFA
By

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

The Night Contains the Day: An Evening of Rumi’s Poetry with Coleman Barks and David Darling

The Night Contains the Day: An Evening of Rumi’s Poetry...
By

 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

Two to Watch: Gretchen and Paul Reynolds
By

 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

SLUG Style: Nicole Morris of Omitted Youth
By

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

Salt 9: Jillian Mayer
By

 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

Gheybin Comish and her Merman Obsession

Gheybin Comish and her Merman Obsession
By

Comish points out her overall inspiration—she says, “I like the primitive act of fighting. I am into Inuit things and figures. I like the plump, fleshy figures.” I could not help but feel privileged to see notes, doodles and observations that she takes with her everywhere, a private insight to her whimsical imagination. Comish’s talent runs deep, and when she casually mentions that she was a child-prodigy pianist, I don’t bat an eye and enviously mumble under my breath something to the effect of, “Oh, of course you were.” … read more