Last week the Kimball Art Center got tough in its negotiations with Park City over their redesign. After a second design was rejected by the city because it didn’t comply with historic preservation guidelines (see here) the Kimball Board of Directors announced it would look for a new location outside the historic district. Kimball Art Center Executive Director Robin Marrouche explained: “We have been dedicated to making every effort to stay in Old Town because we feel the arts are a crucial piece of our local culture, and will help continue to make Park City an international destination. Unfortunately, the parameters we are required to work within did not allow this to come to fruition.” The Kimball has served as an anchor for the arts district and its move to another location may dramatically alter the cultural makeup of Park City’s Main Street.

The Utah Museum of Fine Arts (UMFA) has announced that they will be closing their doors in 2016 in order to install state-of-the-art technology related to humidity controls that will ensure the longevity of the building and help protect the artwork stored there. The current plan is to close the museum’s galleries from January 2016 through early 2017. Public Relations Manager Mindy Wilson says this period will also give the staff an opportunity “to take a close look at the inside, reinstalling important portions of the permanent collection and working to improve our visitor experience, from the front of house throughout the galleries, so that every UMFA visitor feels welcome and comfortable.” She says UMFA will remain active and visible in the community throughout the construction period.

RECENT MIXED MEDIA ARTICLES 

9/4 Comic Con: Utah artist Jake Parker adventures into a gentler universe.
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home3/58368910-200/comic-comics-really-think.html.csp

9/4 Essentials: Entertainment picks Sept. 4-10
http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/essentials-entertainment-picks-sept-4-10/Content?oid=2519791

9/5 Art show to showcase popular culture trends
http://www.standard.net/Arts-Culture/2014/09/05/Art-show-to-showcase-popular-culture-trends.html

9/5 Park City Main Street will be sorry to see the Kimball Art Center go.
http://www.parkrecord.com/park_city-news/ci_26476844/main-street-will-be-sorry-see-kac-go

9/5 Comic Con: ‘Disney Infinity artist’s incredible dream came true.
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/entertainment2/58326157-223/character-love-giant-iron.html.csp

9/6 Grebes highlight bird refuge photo contest.
http://www.standard.net/Arts-Culture/2014/09/07/BIRD-ART.html

9/6 Barn as art: Patriotic paintings go up in Huntsville.
http://www.standard.net/Arts-Culture/2014/09/06/Barn-as-art-Patriotic-paintings-go-up-in-Huntsville.html

9/8 SUU plans ceramic art exhibit.
http://www.thespectrum.com/story/news/local/2014/09/08/suu-plans-ceramic-art-exhibit/15306379/

9/8 Gavin’s Underground: The Sugar Space – River District
http://www.cityweekly.net/TheDailyFeed/archives/2014/09/08/the-sugar-space-river-district

9/9  Utah Museum of Fine Arts will close for upgrades in 2016
http://m.sltrib.com/sltrib/mobile3/58394179-219/building-museum-umfa-dietrich.html.csp

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.