The Utah Photographic arts Council and Gray Wall Gallery are presenting a show of the Council’s members. This is a group show of artists that focus on photographic concepts as a medium for presenting ideas.
“The UPAC show is going to be an exciting show for Gray Wall Gallery as we will be able to introduce a large group of artists to the public in one show. For many of the artists participating this will be their first professional show, and each artist is really pushing to do something that is new and unique.” —Matthew Hall, Curator–Gray Wall Gallery.
The Utah Photographic Arts Council (UPAC) is a group of artists focused on bridging the gap between the educational and established art communities. It was created by University of Utah students Maria Davis, Abbey Wuthrich and Mallory Qualls in 2007 with the intent to supplement their education with workshops, lectures, and exhibitions that would give artists experience outside of an academic curriculum. UPAC members are primarily photographers who work with digital, film, and alternative processes, but members also work with mediums such as sculpture and painting. The group receives funding from the University of Utah College of Fine Arts, but is not limited to students, photographers, or locals. It is open to artists of all levels and all mediums and strives to eliminate boundaries from the art community.
Gray Wall Gallery is excited to promote both this group of artists and the Council as a whole, as the goals of promoting new artists and initiating careers in artwork are shared goals for Gray Wall Gallery and Utah Photographic Arts Council.
UPAC Show Dates:
Opening June 11, 6-8pm
Gallery Stroll June 17, 6-9pm
Closing Date July 1
This Saturday is the Urban Arts Festival, and it’s taking place on our doorstep. You won’t want to miss this event, or miss the Skatedeck painting competition in the gallery. Come by on Gallery Stroll for a preview of the professional category, and come back for the voting and amateur divisions on Saturday.
The month of May at the Gray Wall Gallery brings not only a welcome relief from the showers and cold of a Utah spring, but also some new artists pumping some new life onto the creative soul of the city. The work of ten artists grace the walls of the gallery to form a cohesive body of work not to be missed.
Dorene Miya returns for her second month at the gallery with her detailed work in stain glass. She has said about her work, “I love change and diversity, and so am naturally drawn to glass with its amazing visual and textural properties and how those properties constantly change with light.” The display is by the front window, capturing the sunlight and casting color on the walls.
There is space in the gallery this month to celebrate the contests of the Urban Arts Festival held on Saturday, May 21st. The gallery will be open from 10 am to 9pm that day as city members gather to compete in creating a unique skatedeck. Patrons are welcome to come in and place their votes. Visit UrbanArtsFest.org for more details.
Matthew Hall is featured in two different mediums this month. The gallery features his ceramics, as well as his found art which he has described, “I am choosing to deal with the objects that we ignore—or rather that we have such familiarity with that we know them without consideration—and treat them in ways that tease expectation.
D’Arcy Benincosa’s cohesive exhibit “Our One Body” is featured on the large wall of the gallery. Uniform in it’s black and white nature, the photography depicts the belief that the essential identity of being human is written in the lines and curves of the body. The body, often, places each of us within a collective. She has sought to capture that collective spirit.
qi peng is back this month with his collection of rejection letters that he said “documents the process of how an emerging artist was able to navigate through the contemporary art world and grow within the system.” Part of that growth came through his rejection, which has made his victories that much more poignant. New to the gallery this month is Giuliana Serena. Through her Moontime Rising project, Serena brings forward a resource for change with the Moon Cycle Timepiece, a timekeeping tool for everyone which supports the reintegration of natural time and the human experience.
Richard James Enbody has a pristine reputation among artists in Salt Lake City. His work is a culmination of all his experiences through childhood transisitioning to adulthood. Much of his art is inspired by his past life experiences, which have been full and numerous. His work is next to Hannah Montgomery’s jewelry exhibition. She has handcrafted various pieces that will appeal to many men and women. Her delicate handywork is just the perfect way to express yourself.
Finally, Nic Rodriguez and Daren Young are gallery regulars with ever changing ideas and passions. Rodriguez’s work this month cast shadows on the art of Chinese calligraphy, accented by bold blues and greens where one would have expected to find reds. His work is at once calming and exciting. Young’s work is both refined and delicate in it’s depictions of scenery, both local and of Venice.
The Gray Wall Gallery is excited to announce a full show of artwork that is both widely varied and wonderfully executed. Additions to our gallery roster this month include Nick Albee, Richard Enbody, Dorene Miya and Hannah Montgomery. All four bring new elements to our gallery’s display. “Each month I am wonderfully surprised by the quality of work we are able to bring into the gallery from artists who have rarely been seen in Salt Lake. I am excited to add these four artists to the public eye, and each brings talent that is worthy of high praise.” said gallery curator Matthew Hall.
Dorene Miya’s Glass work is an outstanding addition to our front window, and her stained glass pieces are sure to catch your eye as you enter the gallery. Her portfolio includes pieces that would lighten any room from any surface. Next is Nick Albee who’s work is both realistic and fanciful in its depiction of some of the most beautiful views in the world. Nick’s work will shift your view of the world from what it seems to be to what it truly can be. Nicholas Rodriguez brings a very stylized brush to the gallery with his paintings that focus on the calligraphic elements of the brush to pronounce every detail of his paintings. Derek Dyer, who is one of the most widely talented local artists in Salt Lake City, is showing his range with two sculptural pieces and a selection of pieces from his photography work.
On our largest wall is D’Arcy Benincosa, who’s work really presents the body with poetry to tell the story of a body, and a person, beyond figurative work and into the relationship between the body and the mind. Hannah Montgomery brings a fresh look at jewelry arts, her work takes a look at appropriation of everything from feathers to bullet casings as a wearable piece of art. Her work is not to be missed, and is sure to remain unique for a lifetime. Giuliana Serena returns to the gallery showing a new series of earrings that are as distinct as the hats and scarves that she made popular all winter.
On the right wall of our gallery we are featuring four painters. qi peng brings a look at painting that has its focus on faces of distinguished members of the art world. Richard Enbody brings a very expressive pallet knife painting style to the gallery with a focus on views of open water and sailboats. Daren Young brings his outstanding touch to open landscapes of the west, both in watercolor and oil. His paintings are not to be missed, and his detail is more and more amazing every time you see it. Roldan Din rounds out the wall with absolutely expressive paintings that focus on finding what is real without seeking representation. His paintings bring true emotion through to the viewer with images that do not rely on representation and familiarity for communication.
Our April show is outstanding and we are sure that the range of art presented will sate any art enthusiasts pallet. This show is another cannot miss display of artwork. Join us in the gallery this month to discover artwork that will surprise you with the quality and the variety is sure to show you a piece that you won’t want to live without.
The April show will run from April 8 through April 30th. We will be participating in Gallery Stroll on April 15th, and the show will stay open for our normal gallery hours and by appointment. To schedule a private showing or event please contact Matthew Hall at 801-647-3298 or matt@graywallgallery.com.
