What Utah city has more art galleries per square foot than any other? Park City, of course. Over a dozen dot the three blocks of Main Street.
Park City appears to be the ideal spot for art galleries, since people from around the world flock there, especially during winter months to enjoy "the best snow on earth."The truth is, when spring thaw comes, the gallery owners in Park City find it challenging to stay afloat. Sales are unpredictable. Some days they're brisk; other days, sluggish. To survive, owners must learn to roll with the punches.
They also must learn to be inventive - constantly devising new, innovative ways to attract customers.
Each gallery has done that in a distinctive way. So no matter what your artistic taste - from highly representational to avant-garde - you'll find it in one of the galleries along Main Street.
- The most recent gallery owner to take the plunge in Park City's fickle art market is David Alonzo Lott II. He recently moved his Saguaro Gallery from St. George to Park City. He chose a choice space close to the the top of the hill (314 Main) and has filled it with high-quality Western and wildlife art.
A man with considerable business acumen, Lott has not only handpicked top Utah painters and sculptors for his gallery, but also outstanding artists throughout the country.
Many of the names need no introduction: Painters Bruce Cheever, Michael Coleman, Robert Duncan, VaLoy Eaton, Richard Murray and Bill Whittaker; and sculptors Clark Bronson, Blair Buswell and Ed Fraughton. Lott also carries some of Arnold Friberg's work.
Although you may think you are familiar with the styles and media of these artists, you'll soon discover a few pleasant surprises. When you think of Eaton, L'Deane Trueblood, Kim Whitesides and Buswell, you probably think of oil painting, sculpture, airbrush and sculpture of male athletes - in that order. However, also on display at Saguaro are watercolors by Eaton and Trueblood, pastel landscapes by Whitesides and sculptures of females in relaxed poses by Buswell.
Out-of-state artists whose creations add considerably to the gallery's Western flavor are painters R. Rownell McGrew (Idaho), Paul Strisik (Ohio), Ray Swanson (Arizona); and sculptors George Carlson (Idaho), Kent Ullbert (Texas), Gary Hale (Oklahoma) and Dennis Anderson (Missouri) - to name a few.
Saguaro Gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, call 645-7667.
- Charles and Gwen Latterner, owners of Old Town Gallery, have filled their space with a broad spectrum of artwork and styles, from detailed etchings by Trevor Southey to abstract sculpture by Richard Erdman. Southey is currently the featured artist. His works will continue to be spotlighted there through Thursday, Sept. 5.
The long walk from the front entrance to the back gallery is filled with some delightful, colorful distractions. In fact, you might get so caught up in these visual treats that you'll forget that you came to see Southey's new works.
You'll immediately spot oil paintings by Tom Mulder and floral prints by Jenni Christensen - both of Utah; and brightly colored sculptures by Fran Larsen (New Mexico) and Christopher Duh (Missouri).
Other powerful works that won't escape your view are large acrylic paintings by Hal Larsen (Fran's husband), kimono-shaped wall hangings by Fred Lyman (Utah) and humorous aluminum sculptures by Donald Mitchell (Colorado).
Take a close look at Mitchell's "Never Could Dance." Note the female figure with one right foot and two left feet. Her partner has come to the dance prepared; he's wearing spurs on his toes.
If and when you make it to the end of the hallway, you'll be greeted with Southey's new works. Included in his show are large oils on canvas, smaller etchings and sculpted bronze figures. Also, he has mixed-media works that have been drawn and/or painted over several layers of silkscreen.
In his large painting "Defender," Southey has vigorously attacked the surface with bold, loose strokes. He then has selected a few smaller areas in which to carefully render his imagery. This mixture of styles is visually stimulating.
Old Town Gallery is located at 444 Main. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. For additional information, call 645-7724.
- The personality of the Main Gallery at the Kimball Art Center depends largely on which artists are being featured. But generally, the style leans towards representationalism - as is the case in the current show.
It's not surprising to see four women artists from Utah County combining their talents for an exhibit. Birdie Boorman, Marilee Campbell, Lou Jene Carter and Carol Harding have a lot in common. They have a love affair with landscape, flowers and still life. They all enjoy recording their feelings in both oil and pastel.
With the exception of Boorman, the artists have played a significant part in juried local and state exhibitions for a number of years. In fact, a quick look at the list of the winners of the Deseret News Art Show over the years reveals that Carter was a merit award winner in 1983 and '84. Campbell won a merit award in 1980 and captured the coveted purchase award in 1986 for her pastel "A Touch of Autumn."
Campbell has submitted only pastel works for the show. Some of her most striking works are her vignette "East Bay Evening," "Desert Storm Clouds," and "Lloyds Garden."
One of the best works in the exhibit is Carol Harding's "Rain, Harvest and Truth." In this pastel, she has mastered the medium. Just look at the variety of textures she has created. They range from a smooth-surfaced vase to a heavily textured Indian blanket.
"I feel compelled and joyful to be able to create reflections of this unique world of color, atmosphere and magical light," she says.
Other striking works by Harding are her paintings "Onions of Many Colors," a small oil portrait "In the Garden" and "Etched in Stone."
The talents of Carter and Boorman shine through their work. I was particularly drawn to Carter's pastel "A Corner of my Garden" and Boorman's large oil "The Mountain."
This exhibit continues through Sept. 25 in the Main Gallery of the Kimball Art Center (649-8882). The center is located at 638 Park Avenue at the lower end of Main Street. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.