Exhibition Review: Salt Lake City
Design is Alive in Utah
DesignArts Utah 2015 at Rio Gallery
by David Habben

The Utah Division of Arts & Museum’s annual Design Arts Utah show proves once again the continued growth of talent and ingenuity in Utah. Collected among the juried designers we find students with an eye on the future and established creatives who continue to push boundaries and exercise their skill set boldly and attentively. Additionally, we’re given an insight into the practical nature of much of our design work. Product design and embellishment are featured in the selections, highlighting the growth of entrepreneurial spirit in Utah and the design opportunities developing from it.

Of particular note are the Juror’s Awards in the Student category. Massih Nilforoushan, an architect and student at the University of Utah, envisions a fluid new structure for the Maritime Museum on the Chicago River: the building itself seems to flow with the river, while the paneled exterior evokes the hull of a great ship, all with a form that abstains from becoming an amusement. Meanwhile, Carter Zufelt, of the Brigham Young University Industrial Design program utilizes hundreds of plastic bags to create a beautiful multicolored combination of form and function in his “HDPE Milk Stool and Side Table.” Both efforts draw attention to the preservation of history and attention to the environment that our state fosters.

This theme of awareness and valuation of environmental concerns is further embodied in the Juror’s Award winner in the professional category, “This is Green River,” created by Maria Sykes, Steph Crabtree, Nicole Lavelle, Taryn Cowart, Pete Collard, and Alice Masters. The work creates a collection of “stories” that invite the viewer to not only learn about the intricate history of the small town in the Colorado Plateau, but to become connected to it through the use of personal stories, photos, and videos. Through it we gain a better recognition of the town, its people and the impact they have on our state.

Other works in the show demonstrate how designers in Utah are able to step outside of the conventional clientele. Kathy Tran’s “Origami Egg Drop” is a beautiful object in and of itself, but also carries with it the added feature of being able to protect an egg dropped from significant height. Further showcasing functional and aesthetically pleasing design is the “NUR Bench” by the Plastik Banana Design Werkshop, which utilizes both modern and traditional building methods. “M3 – Modular Furniture” by Stefan Leimer, also brings this method into play by creating functional home decor that saves space and production cost.

As the show’s guest juror, Randy J. Hunt, Creative Director at Etsy, put it, “The ingenuity and creativity that come from a designer’s mind always impress, and this year’s selections are no exception.”

Utah’s continued growth brings new insight and creativity in the design we produce and the impressive showing at this year’s Design Arts Utah showcases that progress and serves to give us confidence in the skill, talent, and innovation to come.

DesignArts Utah 2015 is at the Rio Gallery, 300 South Rio Grande Street (455 West), Salt Lake City, through October 18. Hours: Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-5 p.m.  A closing reception is Oct. 18, 6-9 pm.

Up and Upcoming: To The North
Exhibition Listings in Northern Utah
Prepared by 15 Bytes staff unless otherwise indicated. UPCOMING and UP listings should reach us by the last Wednesday of the month. Those accepted will run until the closing date, or for one month if no closing date is given. Readers using the guide are cautioned to check with the exhibitor if the accuracy of the listing is crucial. Please send listings for this page to editor@artistsofutah.org.

LOGAN
Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art UP: Transcendence: Abstraction & Symbolism in the American West. Highlighting works from the NEHMA Collection, this exhibition explores how artists have employed the use of abstraction and symbolism in the American West over the past century. Through May 7, 2016. AND: Abstraction and the Dreaming: Aboriginal Paintings from Australia's Western Desert (1971-Present) includes more than fifty artworks by 34 artists spanning the emergence of painting at an Aboriginal settlement called Papunya in the early 1970s to the present day. The early "Papunya boards" created in 1971-1972 are descendants of mark-making that dates to well over one hundred centuries ago and are the beginning of the Western Desert art movement (see our review page 1). Through December 12.

BRIGHAM CITY
Brigham City Museum of Art and History UP: Plein Air Exhibition. Through October 10.

OGDEN AREA
The Ogden First Fridays Art Walk takes place every month on the First Friday of the month. Galleries will hold receptions 6-9 pm.

Eccles Community Art Center UP: The paintings of Mac Stevenson of North Ogden and the ceramic art of Craig Haaser of Huntsville will be on display in the Main Gallery; while in the Carriage House Gallery artwork of Tom Plummer of South Jordan and the Ceramic Tea pots of Victoria Acoba of Salt Lake City will be featured. Through October 31.

Shaw Gallery UP: Confetti & Distress / Honey & Suspicion: Elisabeth Higgins O’Connor. The Sacramento artist's work is situated between the tender and grotesque; she re-purposes found objects, thrifted textiles, and detritus to build breathtaking anthropomorphic sculptures that at once entice and repulse, but undoubtedly resonate (see our review page 11). Through November 21.

BOUNTIFUL
HOWA GALLERY UP: Renowned artist, Ted Remington and prominent jewelry designer, Lisa G. Howa step forward with their vibrant and unique work in a dual exhibition. Ted Remington combines soft pastel, acrylic and oil on canvas to capture the haunting beauty of the Southwest’s high desert regions. Lisa G. Howa realizes great joy in finding the best quality materials to produce the most incredible, one-of-a-kind jewelry seen in the country. October 9 through November 7.

BDAC UP: A family exhibit highlighting the many talented artists that abound in the Onyon/Luch family circle. Featuring works by family members: Michal Onyon, Warren Luch, Phyllis Luch, Hilary Onyon, Riley Onyon, Bill Onyon, Robin Luch, Judith Mehr and Aaron Griego. Textile Art/Quilts by Chris Manning. Through November 6.

These listings only include fine art exhibitions. If you are looking for information on lectures, art talks, classes, workshops, calls for entries, employment opportunities and more, visit our message board.