Ten years ago this month, Salt Lake City artist Shawn Rossiter caused a minor stir (and probably one or two fender benders) in his Sugar House neighborhood when he hung a 4′ x 8′ abstract painting in primary colors in front of his house on 13th East. He also hung a long sign that read "shawnrossiter.com" [which the city eventually suggested he take down]. With the thousands of people that passed by the painting everyday, Rossiter says he achieved a sort of notoriety.
"For years after it was taken down, when I would introduce myself to people they would often say, ‘Aren’t you that guy . . .’ referring to the painting and the sign. Others would say, ‘Hmm, Shawn Rossiter, I’ve heard that name.’ It was probably because of that one notorious painting rather than my reputation as a professional artist, but I decided not to enlighten them."
The painting eventually succombed to the elements and was taken down in 2003. Now, to mark the ten-year anniversay, Rossiter says a new painting will be going up. "I put that first painting up when I was just starting out. I had my "Coming Out of the Studio" show — the first time I showed my work — the next month. I was doing a lot of guerilla marketing. It was a lot of fun to throw out a sign that read "Art Sale" on a Saturday and watch people wander in off the street. I remember Francis Zimbeaux came in one day and talked to me because he saw the sign."
"But then, I started becoming a ‘professional’ and the guerilla shows waned. But so did some of the fun."
Rossiter is having an old fashioned Guerilla Art Show this weekend (Friday and Saturday). He started inviting a few artists and says quickly the thing mushroomed to the point that now there will be work from seven living artists as well as some of the "old dead guys."
And there may be some fender benders as well. Yesterday, Trent Alvey and Jim Frazer came to his place and they worked on a new painting, which will go up on the outside of the house today.
So, on your homeward commute this afternoon, if, out of the corner of your eye you catch sight of the new oddity on 13th East, be sure to keep an eye on the cars in front of you. But if you find yourself stuck in traffic, Rossiter suggests you stop in and check out the art until the traffic dies down.
THE SHOW HAS BEEN EXTENDED. Information on the Guerilla Art Show can be found at: http://www.guerillaartshow.com
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.
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