{"id":37489,"date":"2006-09-15T12:06:14","date_gmt":"2006-09-15T18:06:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/?p=37489"},"modified":"2021-02-01T21:56:15","modified_gmt":"2021-02-02T03:56:15","slug":"public-art-in-downtown-provo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/public-art-in-downtown-provo\/","title":{"rendered":"Public Art in Downtown Provo"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Provo city workers install Michael Coleman’s “Who’s on the Roof”<\/p><\/div>\n

Provo is getting serious about art in its downtown. This summer, the Provo Downtown Business Alliance announced the unveiling of 14 new sculptures in the downtown area. On Aug. 11, the Business Alliance announced the commissioning of a new 75-foot mural to grace the walls of Bingham Cyclery.<\/p>\n

These announcements herald a facelift for the downtown area, centered at the intersection of University Avenue and Center Street. Downtown already features the work of Gary Price, Tyler Meadows Davis and two pieces by Andrew Smith, and these 14 new works, by established and emerging artists, have created a tremendous visual impact, exposing drivers and pedestrians alike to the area’s local talent.<\/p>\n

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Carol Jackman “The Earthmovers”<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWe have art that requires contemplation and may take a while to digest, while other pieces are easily consumed and enjoyed instantly,\u201d says Raquel Smith Callis, program director for the Downtown Alliance. \u201cBut, each work of art\u2014each gallery\u2014adds its own spice to the downtown mix.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many of the pieces are being loaned to the Downtown Alliance while the artists gain exposure for their work.<\/p>\n

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Dharl Thomson “Voluble Spirit”<\/p><\/div>\n

Dahrl Thomson, 56, says she is excited to be displaying two of her pieces on the streets of her hometown.\u00a0\u201cI think it will be fun for people in Provo who maybe don\u2019t go to many galleries to have the chance to come out and see art on the streets,\u201d Thomson said. \u201cHopefully, people in Provo will react positively.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to Thomson, sculptures by the following artists can be found downtown: Laura Lee Bradshaw,<\/strong> Michael Coleman,\u00a0Tyler Meadows Davis, Anton Brent Gehring, <\/strong>Carol Jackman|<\/strong>, Jason Millward, <\/strong>Rod Morgan,\u00a0Nick Ryan\u00a0and Kelly Thurgood.<\/p>\n

The Bingham Cyclery mural, which is being painted by international artist and sculptor Asen Balakchiev, is progressing smoothly, and is expected to be completed in early September.<\/strong> The mural revisits a time when downtown Provo featured locomotives and tradesmen rather than minivans and restaurant enthusiasts.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were a fair number of bars downtown for entertainment, a few restaurants, a few confectionary stands and some drugstores,\u201d says local historian and author D. Robert Carter. \u201cSome of them had soda fountains.\u201d<\/p>\n