Salt Lake Art Event in Newly Renovated Monson Center to Showcase Utah’s Visual Arts History, Need for Support

Exhibit featuring some of the state’s most prominent artists, tours of newly renovated mansion; Panel to discuss the need for visual arts in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY (Sept. 16, 2016)—“Art in the City,” anexhibit highlighting Utah’s rich visual arts history, will be open to the public Friday, October 7, 12-8 p.m. at the newly renovated Thomas S. Monson Center at 411 E. South Temple. The exhibit will allow one of the first opportunities for the public to tour the newly renovated mansion, as well as see Salt Lake art from some of Utah’s most prestigious artists. Members of the public are also invited to participate in a panel presentation and discussion in the mansion’s ballroom from 6:30-8 p.m. on art, architecture and the creation of place.

The exhibit will showcase the vital history of visual arts in Salt Lake City, including painting, sculpture, architecture, design, landscape architecture and photography, and is intended to build discussions around the need to emphasize and encourage the visual arts, not just the performing arts.

“The visual arts are an integral part of Salt Lake City’s history, and have helped us both preserve our past and shape our future,” said Steve Cornell, project director for the Monson Center renovation. “It is essential that we educate our children on the value of these original pieces of art and architectureand dedicate more resources to ensuring they are preserved, commissioned and supported, especially here in Salt Lake City.”

“Art in the City” will include works by some of the state’s most accomplished artists, including Randall Lake, Valoy Eaton,LeConte Stewart, Florence Ware, Denis Phillips, John Hughes, Ken Baxter, Frank Huff, John Jarvis and David Meikle. The exhibit will also showcase the extensive renovation that has been completed in theMonson Center and highlight other visual arts.

In recent years, local support and appreciation for visual arts, especially original art, has been declining. Arts funding that has been funneled to support the performing arts is sometimes at the expense of the visual arts. Despite Utah’s Percent-for-Art Act, which requires 1 percent of construction costs for new or renovated state public buildings be set aside for commissioning, maintaining and conserving site-specific art, budgets continue to shrink or focus on preservation rather than acquiring additional original pieces. In Salt Lake City specifically, more than 20 art galleries have closed for lack of support within the last 10 years, with the number continuing to climb in recent years.

The event is free to the public and hosted by Salt Lake Gallery Stroll, Lear and Lear, The Kemand Carolyn Gardner and CRSA Architects.