John Bell’s house

Last month we introduced our new feature, PasteUps, a column spotlighting exciting activities in the local art scene. If you read the first installment you’ll know about the forthcoming Red Call Box, the 337 Project’s 18-hole golf course, and the newly launched Foster Art Program (see an update at the bottom of this column). This month you’ll learn about a number of unique opportunities to get to know Utah art and artists, all happening in the Salt Lake area.

Kent Rigby introduced Salt Lake artist John Bell to our readers in a September 2005 article about an exhibition of the artist’s work in New York. In the article, Rigby recounted the influence of the artist’s home on his artistic development. The process of restoring the Dev Jennings House, a Modernist masterpiece designed by John Sugden, inspired Bell to create his (re) DEFINING SPACE series of paintings (read more here). Now, in an event sponsored by the Utah Heritage Foundation, you will have a chance to see both Bell’s work and the Sugden house. The newest committee of the Foundation, Salt Lake Modern, will celebrate art and architecture during an open house at Bell’s home on October 10th. Salt Lake Modern is dedicated to preserving and promoting the region’s mid-century modern architecture and design. October 10th has been designated Modern Architecture Tour Day by the national mid-century preservation group, DOCOMOMO (DOcumentation and COnservation of buildings, sites and neighborhoods of the MOdern MOvement). The Dev Jennings House, built in 1959, will be open from 5 PM to 7 PM and Bell will be showcasing some of his architecturally informed paintings. 20% of all proceeds from the sale of Bell’s work that evening will benefit Salt Lake Modern. If you are interested in joining Salt Lake Modern or participating in the tour of Bell’s home, please call 801.533.0858, extension 107. RSVPs are required to attend the event due to limited capacity. You may also RSVP online at rsvp@slmodern.org. The open house is being sponsored by Poliform, GrassrootsModern.com, and the Salt Lake Art Center.

Work by Francis Zimbeaux

Another fundraising event will allow you to look at (and purchase) works from the vaults of Francis Zimbeaux, a Salt Lake City artist who passed away in 2006. The sales will benefit Art Access, a non-profit organization already famous for its annual spring fundraiser 300 Plates. Over seventy works by Zimbeaux, including pen and ink drawings, watercolors and oil paintings, ranging in price from $85 to $4000, will be available. The artist, who was born in France on Bastille Day and toddled around the studios of Matisse and Picasso, is known for his paintings and drawings of nymphs and fauns in pastoral settings, as well as colorful nudes.|1| The sale features many of these iconic works, as well as some surprises. Many have already been sold during an online pre-sale. The remainder, as well as works not available online, will be sold at the event on October 9 and October 10. This fundraiser has been made possible by Duncan Hilton and Carol Fulton, trustees of the Francis H. Zimbeaux Charitable Trust, with the support of Phillips Gallery. You can read more about Zimbeaux in our April 2006 edition. In March 2005 Bill Fulton, husband to Carol, created a photographic essay of the artist’s Sugarhouse studio in the first of our continuing Studio Space series (see this month’s photographic essay on Dennis Mecham’s studio on page 2).

Dave Doman

Yet another fundraising event this month looks to aid local artist Dave Doman. As we reported in our Extra!Extra! blog last month, Doman was in a serious skateboarding accident in California. After finishing some new designs for Celtek Boards he was heading to the beach to surf when his longboard hit a puddle of water and shot out from under him, throwing him to the pavement. Friends and family report that after spending time in a medically-induced coma and a lengthy stay in the ICU, he still has a long way to go to recover; which is why they are putting on The Dollars for Doman art show, Friday, October 16th at Higher Ground Learning (380 West Pierpont Ave, SLC). Local artists have donated work for the event, and all proceeds to go to the artist and his recovery. For more information contact Ashley Leines at ashley@celteksnow.com

35×35 exhibition at Finch Lane Gallery

Also on October 16, Artists of Utah will host the Awards Reception for its 35 x 35 show at Finch Lane Gallery. Over 600 people came to the opening reception and in order to get them and more to come back, Artists of Utah has prepared special activities for the second reception. Work Zone, a sixty-minute film containing interviews with artists from the show, will be premiering at the opening. The film will be screening on a continuous loop throughout the reception (see our trailer below). In addition, Artists of Utah will be presenting awards for the show. These include three jurors awards, a Board of Directors award and The People’s Choice. Over two-hundred ballots have been cast for the latter and votes will be accepted votes up until 8 pm on October 16. All the awards will be announced at 8:30 pm. While this event is not presented as a fundraiser Artists of Utah will not turn away anyone wishing to donate a check to further programs like 35 x35, 15 Bytes and Work Zone.

15 Bytes

UTAH’S ART MAGAZINE SINCE 2001, 15 Bytes is published by Artists of Utah, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.