VISUAL ARTS

Last April, Dan's Foods ran two ads in the arts section soliciting proposals for two commissioned murals to be painted in their Foothill Village and Olympus Hills stores. The response was tremendous, with 50 artists submitting more than 75 comprehensive drawings. In May, two Utah artists - Layne Brady of Centerville and Blaine Demille of Salt Lake City - won the commissions. Each was awarded $10,000 to create the murals.Since that time, both artists have worked hard on their respective commissions. Brady has completed two murals at Dan's Foods in Foothill Village. Working on location, Brady and his assistant, Jack Ruiter, set up their scaffolding above the produce department. "Customers began to follow the progress of the murals," Brady said. "Each time they came to shop they'd see a little more of my concept taking shape."

Demille took a different approach. He did the underpainting and some of the final oil painting in his studio on a large canvas (more than 5 feet by 60 feet). Last week, it was hung on a wall much like wallpaper in Dan's Foods in Olympus Hills. For the next two or three weeks, he'll be working on location so the public can watch as he completes the mural.

The competition was initially conceived by Mark Petersen, the marketing director at Dan's. He is also an artist, as is his father, Harold Petersen, educator and president of the Petersen Art Center.

- "Celebrating the Wild Westside," an art exhibit featuring the creative talents of 21 artists living and/or working in Artspace, will be shown at the Art Access Gallery from Friday, Aug. 19, through Friday, Sept. 30. A public reception will be held from 6-9 p.m. on Aug. 19. This reception will serve as the official kick-off for the westside neighborhood street fair set for Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 20 and 21. During the fair, also titled "Celebrating the Wild Westside," the street in front of Artspace will be closed to traffic. A variety of artwork will be available for purchase - painting, ceramics, sculpture, quilts, stained glass, photography, furniture and mixed-media.

- The annual North West Rendezvous Exhibition opens Friday, Aug. 19 and continues through Friday, Sept. 28 in Park City's Kimball Art Center. Other NWR events include seminars and/or demonstrations by Bob Morgan, Ed Fraughton, Harley Brown and Randy Ash in the Egyptian Center on Friday morning, followed by an artists' reception at KAC that evening; a quick draw and auction at the Homestead Resort Saturday morning, followed by a fixed price sale of major works and "Little Jewels" at KAC and an awards banquet that evening. The public is invited to many of these events. For details, call KAC, 649-8882.

- The National Wildlife Art Museum (NWAM) will open its new facility in Jackson Hole, Wyo., on Sept. 12. The first exhibit to be spotlighted there will be an exhibition by William Albert Allard. Titled "Vanishing Breed," the exhibit reflects his passion for the West in 24 large format photographs recording the struggle, hardship, hope and determination of the cowboy. The new museum facility will be at 100 Rungius Road in Jackson Hole (two miles north of town). For details, call 1-307-733-5771.

- Lectures, workshops, classes and meetings:

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Aug. 15-18 (KAC, Park City, 649-8882) - "Ceramic Art II" workshop with Lark Lucas.

Tuesday, Aug. 16 (7 p.m., Brigham City Museum-Gallery (24 N. 300 West, Brigham City, 723-6769) - Gallery talks by Jen Shurtliff on "Personal Expression Coming Through Tradition," and Judith Elsley on "Voices from the Marginal Groups."

Friday and Saturday, Aug. 26 and 27 (6-9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Salt Lake County Complex's south building, 2001 S. State) - Colored pencil workshop taught by Richard Hull. Registration fee: $45. Limit: 20 people. For more information call Sheri Doty 467-6013 or 582-2716; or write her at 2801 S. 2700 East, SLC, UT 84109.

Sept. 15-17 (KAC, Park City, 649-8882) - "Painting Zion in Color," workshop taught by Carl Purcell.

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