{"id":104027,"date":"2026-06-24T12:48:54","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T19:48:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/?p=104027"},"modified":"2026-06-23T13:33:24","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T20:33:24","slug":"creative-community-in-motion-artist-run-club-slc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/creative-community-in-motion-artist-run-club-slc\/","title":{"rendered":"Creative Community in Motion: Artist Run Club SLC"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Artist Run Club SLC in front of Sophie Nebeker’s mural in South Salt Lake.<\/p><\/div>\n

Blending the arts and athletics isn\u2019t something you encounter every day, but when it happens, it\u2019s magic. That magic is unfolding in Salt Lake City thanks to local artists Aimee Odum, Catherine Velasquez, and Dax Hansen\u2014the organizers behind Artist Run Club SLC.<\/p>\n

Artist Run Club SLC launched in March 2024, founded by Odum and Velasquez. The two first connected at another run club, and after an inspired conversation realized Salt Lake City needed its own version of the Artist Run Club, a concept that began in Austin, Texas. Odum reached out to Austin co\u2011founder Phillip Niemeyer for guidance on starting a chapter in Utah. With his support\u2013and Odum and Velasquez\u2019s shared enthusiasm\u2013the SLC group soon took shape. A year later, Hansen joined the team, completing the trio. \u201cHis enthusiasm was contagious, and we knew he was the perfect fit to keep the group growing and flourishing,\u201d Odum says.<\/p>\n

With the three organizers sharing responsibilities, the club hosts weekly meetups every Wednesday at 7am. As leaders, their approach is highly collaborative, often sharing ideas of new artists they\u2019ve met or exhibitions they heard of as potential meet up sites. While they generally take on distinct responsibilities, Odum oversees the calendar, Velasquez designs the 5k routes, and Hansen creates video recaps\u2014they work together to ensure the runs are fun and safe for all participants. As Velasquez explains, \u201cWe provide an authentic community, and I honestly think that is hard to find. Artists need community. It feeds the soul and inspires us to keep creating. This club encourages conversations about our work that feel vulnerable but ultimately further our practice. Or we just catch up with friends and talk about the funny thing their kid said, the trip they just got back from, or the job they\u2019re hoping to get. We all leave feeling a little bit better about the world and grateful for each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

Each week offers a new experience. One week you might visit a gallery or museum; the next, a public artwork or mural; and another week, an artist\u2019s personal studio. To mix things up, the group occasionally meets at a local coffee shop for conversation before heading out for a relaxed morning run.<\/p>\n

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Visiting Kirsten Noelle Anderson’s studio.<\/p><\/div>\n

When I joined the club, my first experience was visiting local artist Sophie Nebeker\u2019s newest mural for the South Salt Lake Mural Fest. I\u2019ll admit; at first I was intimidated. I hadn\u2019t been on a run in years, and running was never my favorite activity. But that changed the moment I arrived. The organizers and participants greeted me warmly, immediately putting me at ease. The featured artist, Sophie, generously shared insights into her creative process and the work behind her vibrant mural. Her passion was infectious, and it was the perfect introduction to the group.<\/p>\n

Because the mural was located in an industrial area, we relocated to the Jordan River Parkway near Tracy Aviary\u2019s Pia Okwai Nature Center for the run. Starting the day with art, lively conversation, and a scenic run left me feeling energized, accomplished, and already connected to a newfound community. I was hooked.<\/p>\n

The following week, we met at Finch Lane Gallery, where Gallery Director Todd Orbendorfer introduced us to solo exhibitions by Susan Kirby and Hannah Vaughn. We were especially lucky because Vaughn joined us to talk about her work. Outside of art school, it\u2019s often rare to have such an intimate experience with an artist discussing their practice. Afterward, we ran through the beautiful surrounding neighborhoods, chatting with fellow artists and runners. One thing I love about this group is that they always begin with introductions, making newcomers feel welcome and comfortable.<\/p>\n

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Early morning light in front of the Salt Lake Arts Council’s Finch Lane Gallery.<\/p><\/div>\n

The next week, we visited the studio of local artist John Sproul; a true highlight. Sproul generously shared works in progress and the deeper motivations behind his practice. Our conversation turned to the importance of gatherings like this, especially in tumultuous times. \u201cSalt Lake City is home to some incredibly talented, hard\u2011working artists and galleries, and they should get all the attention we can give them,\u201d Hansen says. \u201cRunning, for me, is not about competing but rather healing and becoming. Same with art. I genuinely love that someone would have the courage to make something and put it out into the world. I will celebrate that whenever I get a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re a seasoned runner or a total beginner, you should absolutely consider joining Artist Run Club SLC. Everyone involved is kind, welcoming, and genuinely invested in building community. The runs accommodate all skill levels, and even if you\u2019re not particularly into art or running, the people alone make it worth showing up.<\/p>\n

Beginner Tips from the Organizers<\/p>\n

Aimee Odum<\/p>\n

\u201cWe get a lot of questions about pacing and what to expect during the run. This is a socially focused group; we keep the pace mellow and conversational, with someone at the front and back who knows the route. We encourage folks to preview the route on the Strava event or reach out with any questions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Catherine Velasquez<\/p>\n

\u201cWear comfortable clothes for the season and bring a water bottle so you can stay hydrated. We do our best to maintain a conversational pace\u2013no PRs here\u2013so it stays inclusive and beginner\u2011friendly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dax Hansen<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the colder seasons, I have one word: layers. You\u2019ll start cold, but you won\u2019t end that way. I love my FlipBelt to store my phone and keys. I always bring water for after the run, but mostly I hydrate the night before and drink a big glass first thing in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Inside John Sproul’s studio.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI hope someone else finds what I did: a community that drives me to make more art, move my body, and make a few friends. Long\u2011term, I hope we keep learning and seeing more of the SLC art community,\u201d Hansen says.<\/p>\n

Catherine echoed this sentiment, adding, \u201cLong\u2011term, I hope our club brings more awareness to the importance of the arts and helps other artists and galleries gain traction. Short\u2011term, I hope it\u2019s a highlight of everyone\u2019s week. We don\u2019t have goals to become a huge run club\u2013we\u2019d rather stay small and genuine. But if we grow while staying true to our roots, that\u2019s great too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aimee concludes,:\u201cI hope people leave inspired, encouraged, and better connected with other members of the community. Long\u2011term, I hope more exhibition spaces, artists, and creative partners get excited about collaborating with us.\u201d<\/p>\n

The ultimate goal of Artist Run Club SLC is simple: bring artists and runners together to have fun, learn about local art, and connect with their community. It\u2019s hard to imagine a better way to start the day.<\/p>\n

To stay up\u2011to\u2011date on the Artist Run Club schedule, locations, and run routes, follow @artist.run.clubslc<\/a> on Instagram. The club meets every Wednesday at 7am, year\u2011round \u2013 rain, snow, or shine.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Blending the arts and athletics isn\u2019t something you encounter every day, but when it happens, it\u2019s magic. That magic is unfolding in Salt Lake City thanks to local artists Aimee Odum, Catherine Velasquez, and Dax Hansen\u2014the organizers behind Artist Run Club SLC. Artist Run Club SLC launched in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1744,"featured_media":104081,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-104027","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-visual_arts"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-11-18 06:19:23","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ARC-SLC_Sophie-Nebeker_1-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104027","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1744"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=104027"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104027\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":104085,"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104027\/revisions\/104085"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/104081"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=104027"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=104027"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=104027"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}