This month, Park City’s Coda Gallery features the unique visual world of Salt Lake’s Melissa Peck. Peck studied at Salt Lake Community College and Utah State University and uses pencil and brush to create storybook characters, inspired by her travels, her reading and, most importantly, her two daughters, Aleah and Eve. In addition to layers of watercolor or oil paint, Peck enjoys incorporating papers in her work. These range in variety from an old piece of writing as early as 1860 to parts of her seven year old daughter’s spelling words. Coda Gallery will hold a reception for the artist this Friday, March 7, from 6 to 9 pm.
What hangs above your mantel?
An Aaron Fritz landscape. I fell in love with his white trees the first time I saw his work. Another favorite of mine is a Heather Barron painting of a woman with orange hair.
What is your favorite building in Utah?
The Salt Lake City County building. I have used details from it in many paintings.
What is the most memorable exhibit you’ve seen recently?
Brian Kershisnik’s show at Meyer Gallery. I just bought “Kershisnik Painting From Life”. I love the part of the book where his wife Suzanne gives her perspective of Brian. She tells a story about him mixing his own color of gray for the bathroom, and him saying “there are no bad colors”. Brian’s show was outstanding and he couldn’t be a nicer guy.
This is our chance to check in with members of Utah’s art community to see what they’ve been reading, seeing, doing.
Categories: On the Spot
