- For 18 years now, the Utah Watercolor Society has held an annual show open to all Utah watercolorists. However, whether or not the works get into the exhibit depends on the adjudicator (that's a fancy name for juror/judge).
This year, nationally recognized watercolorist Kathryn Chang Liu "adjudicated" the show. After looking carefully at 225 entries, she accepted 90. They now grace the walls in Tivoli's downstairs gallery.It's interesting to note that the watercolor medium is attracting more women than men - at least in Utah. In fact, about 75 percent of the watercolors in this exhibit have been painted by women.
And many women watercolorists paint florals. So before Dane Traeden of Tivoli Gallery hung the show, he decided to spread the floral paintings throughout the gallery. This decision not only downplays the dominant subject matter but sprinkles bright colors throughout the exhibit.
In addition to jurying, Liu was asked to select the "best" artwork to receive awards. She surprised a number of artists and viewers with some of her choices.
Mary Ann Smith captured the best-of-show award for "Three of My Daughters Contemplating Tomorrow." First, second and third place awards went to C.H. Bradford for "Evening Shadows," Osral Allred for "Shopping Block" and Joyce Topham for "Of Bricks and Bygone Days."
Liu also chose 10 artists to receive awards of merit - Alfred Crawford, Nancy Seamons Crookston, Cynthia Fehr, Norma Forsberg, Eddi Malloy, Shirley McKay, Dottie Miles, Katherine Minck, Marilyn Read and Mary Lou Romney.
Some great paintings didn't receive awards - but should have. Betsy Campbell's "Rhododendrons Plus" is filled with flowing lines and subtle, transparent glazes; Laurie Erickson's "Still Poppies" is visually appealing, thanks to the graded bluish-gray background; Thelma Parsons' "Grandma's Cosmos" is beautifully rendered, including pots and vases drawn in perspective.
Other superb works were submitted by Margaret Bradley, Marian Dunn, Carol Evans, Jerry Fuhriman, Travis Humphreys, Ann Maak, Ed Maryon, Marilyn Read and Bernadette Velick.
The 18th Annual UWS June Open Show will remain through June 26 at the Tivoli Gallery, 255 S. State (521-6288). Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
- Utah women have infiltrated other areas previously dominated by men, including metal sculpture.
Two of them are - Catherine Ekstrom and Katrina Tatarovich - are participating in the exhibit "Emergence: New Utah Sculptors" at the Salt Lake Art Center.
Ekstrom relies on repetition and precarious balance as she combines her geometrical shapes.
"In every form there is a soul striving to make its identity speak to us," she says. "It can move, dance and even make music. It is just waiting for the right ears, eyes and touch."
Tatarovich enjoys working in steel or clay - and sometimes combining the two. "Spring" is a fine example of this union.
Her sculptures are abstract - at least to others. But she sees them as figurative. When she creates them, she tries to reduce them to their essential gestures. "To me, these sculptures are a manifestation of the gesture of thought."
Other sculptors participating in this show are Nathan Brimhall, Michael Mogus, Marcelino Stuhmer and Cordell Taylor.
Brimhall's work represents an exploration of form through the medium of metal. "Sculpture is a means of expressing, experiencing, studying and understanding the world unique to me," he says.
Mogus organizes his work in an abstract manner. His goal is "to arouse the curiosity of the viewer to experience the emotion resulting from my creative process."
Stuhmer combines lead with other materials when constructing his small sculptures. He's fascinated by combining 2-D and 3-D surfaces.
"To me, my work suggests a private moment that embodies life's experiences and insights that are relived, mostly through memory," he says.
Taylor's sculptures are some of the strongest in the show. His mixed-steel creations reflect a mature style that is rarely seen among emerging artists.
His fascination with nature, found objects and primitive civilizations finds expression in his work.
Taylor, Ekstrom and Tatarovich will present gallery talks about their work at noon on Wednesday, June 17. The others will speak on Wednesday, July 1.
The exhibit continues in the SLAC's Upstairs Gallery through July 3. Viewing hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1-5 p.m. on Sunday.
- Female ceramists are feeling more and more at home at the potter's wheel. Turning out quality pieces, they're giving their male counterparts a run for their money.
One of them is Anita Phillips.
She's no newcomer to the medium. In 1973, she received a bachelor's degree in pottery at the State University of New York at Potsdam. For 18 years, she worked in ceramics studios in New York state and Massachusetts producing functional stoneware.
In the winter of 1991, she traveled to Nicaragua to do volunteer work with Potters for Peace. While there, she taught throwing techniques as well as helped build a gallery in Managua where local potters could exhibit and sell their work. After completing her volunteer work, she moved to Utah.
Her pottery is being featured at Stoneage Crafts. Included are raku and wood-fired pieces - vases, cups, goblets, teapots, cheese- and butter-keepers, and lots of clocks.
The exhibit continues through July 10. The gallery is located at 3695 S. 300 West (262-9654). Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.