Salt Lake City artist Trevor Dahl has had a busy year. First, there was his participation in Artists of Utah’s 35×35 show, then his two-person exhibition at FICE Gallery in March, and now his new mural, which just went up at South Salt Lake’s Mural Fest.
His mural, located at the 500 East stop of the S-Line (495 E. S-Line Corridor) exemplifies his artistic language, blending spirituality, mythology, and a deep connection to collective consciousness. Dahl employs bold, clean lines and a vivid color palette that brings each character and object into sharp relief against the bright background. This approach creates a striking contrast and draws the viewer’s eye to the relationships between characters, objects, and their environment. The figures, though simple in form, convey a layered story that invites viewers to ponder their symbolic interplay.
The mural features a bright yellow background, overlaid with a vivid tableau. A green frog, its tongue outstretched to capture a fly, perches on top of a coyote, which rests over a skull among rocks and grassy patches in a dreamlike landscape. The whimsical tree overhead, with its bold, circular leaves, and the serene blue bird perched atop a mushroom add to the mural’s fantastical ambiance. Musical notes floating around the bird and the words “good.happy.stuff” create an uplifting, almost mantra-like sentiment.
Dahl’s mural brings to life a series of recurring symbols and archetypes characteristic of his work. The frog, often associated with transformation, appears to represent a playful metamorphosis, while the coyote symbolizes both cunning and wisdom. The juxtaposition of the animal resting on a skull introduces an element of mortality, balanced with a sense of renewal. Together, these elements suggest an intricate dance between life and death, reflecting themes of spiritual transformation. The blue bird, often a harbinger of joy and hope, stands as a reminder of positivity. Its musical notes emphasize the importance of harmony. In Dahl’s visual universe, this combination of creatures is not just an assortment of images but rather actors within a mythological narrative.
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Categories: Art Lake City | In Plain Site | Visual Arts
