As they conclude their 60th season, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company have announced that Peter Farrow and Alexander Pham are leaving the company. Farrow, from Richmond Virginia, studied at Julliard. He joined the company in 2020. Pham, from Minneapolis, Minnesota studied at the University of Minnesota and joined the company in 2021. They will be replaced by Nicholas Elizondo and Luke Dakota Zender. A native of Dallas, Texas, Elizondo graduated this year from George Mason University with a BFA in dance. He started his professional career in 2023 as an apprentice with Doug Varone and Dancers in New York. Zender has been dancing and choreographing in Los Angeles and New York for the last ten years both in the commercial and concert worlds.

The University of Utah College of Fine Arts has announced Dr. Temma Balducci and Chris DuVal, MFA, as the new Chairs of the Departments of Art & Art History and Theatre, respectively, starting July 1, 2024. Dr. Balducci, from Arkansas State University, has been an advocate for community engagement and interdisciplinary collaborations, and is honored to lead the Department of Art & Art History at the University of Utah. Chris DuVal, who has served as the Interim Chair of the Department of Theatre for the past year, brings extensive experience in acting, voice, and movement, as well as a deep commitment to mentorship and innovation. He looks forward to continuing his work with the department as it plans for the upcoming season in the new Meldrum Theatre. Dean John Scheib expressed confidence in the positive impact of these new leaders on the departments’ growth and excellence.

Greg Pearson, “Sage Grouse”

The Utah Watercolor Society announced the winners of their Spring Open Show, being held at the Visual Arts Institute, 2900 South 300 West, South Salt Lake City, through June 28.

Best of Show: Greg Pearson, “Sage Grouse”
First Place: Carl Purcell, “Reid’s Table Saw”
Second Place: Kristi Grussendorf, “Cache Valley Winter”
Third Place: Michelle Nixon, “Charles”
Honorable Mentions: Roland Lee, “Through Canyons Like This;” Jana Parkin, “Desert Light;” Rebecca Hartvigsen, “Apricots;” Gunther Haidenthalle, “Salt River Reflections”

David Dibble, “I Dipped My Hands into the River of Time,” oil on linen

The Springville Museum of Art’s 100th annual Spring Salon was jurored by master oil painter Mian Situ, Southwest Contemporary editor and publisher Lauren Tresp and sculptor and professor Bryon Draper. The exhibition continues through July 6.

First Place: David Dibble, “I Dipped My Hands into the River of Time”
Director’s award: Kathleen Peterson, “The Quilters”
Salon 100 Director Emeritus’ award: Santiago Michalek, “Lost in the Machine”

Museum Purchase Awards: Wendy Chidester, “Rem-Blick;” Josh Clare, “As a Rose;” Anne Gregerson, “Rest,” Emily Fox King, “Through the Motions;” Santiago Michalek, “Lost in the Machine;” Kathleen Peterson, “The Quilters;” Bianca Velasquez, “Easy to Raise”

Awards of Merit: Joseph Alleman, “Canyon Orbit;” McGarren Flack, “High Key;” Jamie Kyle, ‘Saturday Morning Ritual;” Jared Rawle, “Midnight Oil;” Bryan Mark Taylor, “Sourdough Bread;” Leroy Transfield “Fashion;”

Honorable Mentions: Liz Harris, “Hush Little Baby;” Myles Howell, “Saprolite;” Emily Christensen McPhie “Golden Thread;” Tyson Monson, “The Flesh is Weak;” Jeffery Pugh, “Dreaming My Dreams;” Gilmore Scott, “Our Storm Dazzlers;” Donnie Tapp, “Leavening;” Adam Thomas, “Till We Come into the Unity of the Faith”

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.