{"id":88655,"date":"2024-11-21T08:40:23","date_gmt":"2024-11-21T15:40:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/?p=88655"},"modified":"2024-12-06T09:39:23","modified_gmt":"2024-12-06T16:39:23","slug":"compass-gallery-bridges-art-community-and-spirituality-in-provo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/compass-gallery-bridges-art-community-and-spirituality-in-provo\/","title":{"rendered":"Compass Gallery Bridges Art, Community and Spirituality in Provo"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Compass Gallery, on Provo’s Center Street, opened in October.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A college town home to more than 35,000 students, Provo has never been short of exciting initiatives. But due to that same demographic\u2014cash-strapped and transient\u2014few last for very long; which can make it hard to create a gallery scene. At the moment, however, Provo seems to be thriving, thanks in part to the recently launched Compass Gallery, which hopes to redefine how art is experienced and supported in Utah County through a thoughtful balance of community-oriented goals and high professional standards. It\u2019s led by Esther Hi\u2019ilani Candari, an accomplished artist with a keen entrepreneurial spirit who hopes the gallery can carve out a distinct space in the cultural landscape.<\/h4>\n

For almost a decade, Writ and Vision was the heart of Provo\u2019s local art scene. What began as a rare bookstore specializing in Mormon and Latter-day Saint works, Writ and Vision began showing art in 2015 when co-founder Brad Kramer took over full ownership from his partner. For nine years, the bookstore and gallery on Provo\u2019s Center Street served as a hub for the local community, focusing on LDS and LDS-adjacent events and exhibitions. It hosted discussion groups, readings, and showcases, cultivating a space for Latter-day Saints of various backgrounds to connect and engage. Earlier this year, when an online controversy erupted regarding Kramer\u2019s relationships with members of that community, that heart broke.<\/h4>\n
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Esther Hi\u2019ilani Candari, courtesy of Compass Gallery<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A native of Hawaii, Candari came to Utah after completing her MFA at Liberty University in Virginia. A sculptor, photographer and painter, she has established a growing reputation for her figurative works that explore themes such as multiracial identity, gender, and the female gaze within religious contexts; but she\u2019s never been content just to be a studio artist. \u201cI\u2019ve always been fascinated by how all the different gears work to make the art world run,\u201d she explains. \u201cEven though my bread and butter is selling paintings, the broader industry has always intrigued me.\u201d A couple of years ago, she decided to buy in to Writ and Vision as a managing partner and by the time the controversy erupted was managing all the exhibitions. The fissures at Writ and Vision\u2019s core forced some hard decisions and she decided to step in and buy Kramer out of some of the business\u2019 assets and salvage what she could.<\/h4>\n

\u201cI felt pretty strongly that we needed, at bare minimum, a rebrand,\u201d she says.\u00a0 <\/span>But she also wanted a new space: \u201cMoving locations was a way to communicate a clean break from the past.\u201d<\/h4>\n

Finding a location that fit both her artistic aspirations and her budget constraints proved challenging. \u201cMost spaces were either in my budget range and really depressing or outside of my budget range,\u201d she says. Then she came across the space in Provo’s historic Taylor Brothers Building, a few doors east of Writ and Vision.<\/h4>\n

With its street-facing windows and spacious interior, it was a lucky find, but also an expensive one. It only became within her reach due to a partnership with Faith Matters, a nonprofit organization that fosters conversations within the Latter-day Saint community through podcasts, publications, and events. This collaboration has shaped the gallery\u2019s unique identity, as the space now serves dual purposes: an art gallery and an event venue. \u201cThey manage the event side of things, like concerts and interfaith workshops,\u201d Candari explains. \u201cThe private, paid events cover their operational costs, while we focus on curating thought-provoking art shows.\u201d<\/h4>\n

Compass Gallery hosts two shows at a time, with monthly rotations aligned with Provo\u2019s First Friday Art Stroll. This structure ensures regular opportunities for artists to showcase their work while keeping the gallery\u2019s offerings fresh for visitors. The flexibility of the space, which includes mobile walls on wheels, allows for quick adjustments to accommodate various events and exhibitions. \u201cWe\u2019re still on a bit of a learning curve,\u201d Candari admits. \u201cBut the mobile walls give us a lot of flexibility to host everything from intimate solo shows to larger group exhibitions.\u201d<\/h4>\n
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Shari Lyon’s “Sacred Canopies”<\/p><\/div>\n

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The current main exhibition is Shari Lyon\u2019s Sacred Canopies<\/i>, a series of large and small works that explore the spiritual connection between trees and the divine feminine, using their rooted strength and reaching branches as symbols of nurturing wisdom and power. Inspired by myths, legends, and nature, the paintings delve into the sacred relationship between the natural world and the feminine divine. Nearby, Denise Gasser’s Art After: Reconciling Art and Motherhood <\/i>embraces interruptions as part of the creative process, capturing the challenges and beauty of balancing art with motherhood. Each 5×7-inch piece is completed in one sitting, documenting the time and cause of interruptions, challenging the notion that motherhood and creativity must be at odds.<\/h4>\n

The gallery takes a proactive approach to artist submissions, encouraging proposals that align with its focus on cohesive, concept-driven bodies of work. \u201cWe review applications every two months,\u201d she explains. \u201cWe\u2019re much more interested in strong concepts, either for group shows or individual artists, rather than one-off pieces.\u201d<\/h4>\n

Candari says Compass Gallery\u2019s mission is to provide a professional platform for both emerging and established artists while fostering community engagement. \u201cI want Compass Gallery to be a place where people come to experience something meaningful, whether they\u2019re artists or art lovers.\u201d She is particularly passionate about supporting rising artists who may find it difficult to break into more competitive markets like Salt Lake City or Park City. \u201cOne of my big goals is to hold a high professional bar but still be approachable,\u201d she says. \u201cIf artists are offering something good, I want them to feel like they can get their foot in the door quickly.\u201d<\/h4>\n
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This dual commitment to quality and accessibility reflects Candari\u2019s broader vision for the gallery. While Compass Gallery is rooted in Provo, its ethos is expansive, aiming to spark dialogue around spirituality and creativity without being narrowly defined by religious affiliation. \u201cWe want to provide art that is thought-provoking and spiritually expansive,\u201d Candari says. \u201cBut I don\u2019t want us to be labeled as a \u2018religious gallery\u2019 because that comes with a lot of connotations. We\u2019re exploring themes of the spirit, faith, and human experience in a broad and inclusive way.\u201d<\/h4>\n

In addition to its brick-and-mortar operations, Compass Gallery has leaned into the growing trend of pop-up shows. These temporary exhibitions, often held in partnership with events like Faith Matters\u2019 annual conference, have proven highly successful both artistically and financially. \u201cPeople are hungry for experiences,\u201d Candari says. \u201cIf you can take your products to an experience, you\u2019ll have better results than just being in one location.\u201d<\/h4>\n

Looking ahead, Candari is optimistic about the gallery\u2019s potential to shape the cultural conversation in Provo and beyond. She sees a generational shift in how people value art, particularly among younger buyers who prioritize handmade, meaningful works over mass-produced items. \u201cI\u2019m seeing a marked interest in the handcrafted among younger millennials and Gen Z,\u201d she notes. \u201cEven college students are carefully budgeting to buy a $100 or $200 piece every now and then. That makes me hopeful for the long-term trajectory of our audience.\u201d<\/h4>\n

Candari believes the partnership with Faith Matters provides a degree of stability often missing in the volatile world of gallery ownership. \u201cIt connects us to a larger conversation that\u2019s really robust right now, especially in the Latter-day Saint space,\u201d she explains. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen that investment pay off in projects we\u2019ve collaborated on, like our pop-up shows.\u201d<\/h4>\n