Gallery Spotlight- Bountiful
Lamplight
Gallery
By Shawn Rossiter
photos by Steve Coray
The Lamplight Art Gallery on Bountiful's historic Main Street recently
celebrated their first birthday. The gallery was the idea of Colleen
Parker, a Bountiful artist, who for years maintained a studio above the retail
space where the gallery is now located. She wanted to create a place where
artists could find cameraderie and inspiration and where local residents
could be exposed to fine art.
Parker's idea began to develop as she met with other artists
interested in her idea of a cooperative gallery. A few of the initial artists
have since left the organization, but now the gallery consists of twelve
artists from Davis, Salt Lake and Weber counties.
Each member of the co-op pays
a monthly fee to help cover the business costs for the gallery. In
addition they volunteer around sixteen hours a month to "sit" the gallery.
Upstairs, where Parker has her studio, there is also common space for
gallery members to work and also where many of the artists offer classes
to the community.
Lamplight's grand opening was a year ago this month.
The gallery had begun in August, but held their grand opening in September,
just after the September 11th events. September of 2001 was not the
best time to begin a business. Yet, even though the gallery members
have yet to see thousands of dollars roll in, they certainly feel their
venture has been a success. As their mission statement says, their
"purpose is to generate enthusiasm for creating and viewing fine art"
and to provide an educational venue for the community. The artists have
all felt themselves part of a larger group by being in the gallery and local
church, educational and scout groups have all toured the gallery and had
access to their services.
This relationship to the community is of central importance to the gallery.
The artists hope to make Bountiful a place to make, see and purchase art,
something Bountiful is not traditionally known for. Parker says "You don't
sell much original art in Bountiful." Consequently, some of the
gallery's artists have introduced limited edition giclee' prints to
their offerings. In addition, the gallery has taken on a few pieces --
mostly lathed-turned word -- from artists outside the co-op. Whatever
it takes, the artists at Lamplight plan to be around for a while to come.
Lamplight Gallery holds regular openings
in conjunction with the Bountiful Davis Art Center. Lamplight Gallery is
located at 163 South Main, Bountiful, and is open Tuesday thru Saturday
10 - 6 . Artists hanging at the gallery include: Linda Walker, Ginny Coombs,
Colleen Parker, Rebecca Lee, Anne Chesley, Barbara Dowdle, Stan Elmer, Charlene
Hill, Kay Taylor Affleck, Jennifer Harrington, Beverly Mangum and James
Fedor.
Alternative Venue- Bountiful
Cafe
Alicia
By Steve Coray
Just off the Fourth North exit in Bountiful is another
great place to take in Utah art while enjoying a fine meal. Cafe
Alicia, owned by Aaron and LeAnn Marquez, specializes in
seafood, steaks, and Mexican food. Since this February its walls have
been home to a wide variety of fine art from
emerging, mostly northern Utah, artists.
In 2001, Marquez
began the process of finding a source of art he could display
in his restaurant. Wanting to be more involved in the community
and looking to add atmosphere to his business, Marquez eventually
settled on Lamplight Gallery, a Bountiful co-op gallery. The co-op
artists now maintain the displayed work, rotating in new pieces
every month or so.
The restaurant takes no formal commission,
but servers do often receive a small financial incentive for
sales that they were instrumental in encouraging. For patrons,
the arrangement produces a broad selection of affordable Utah fine
art. And, located just ten minutes from downtown Salt Lake, Cafe Alicia is
worth a look.
Cafe Alicia (801-292-7002 ) is located at 544 West
400 North, in Bountiful, and is open for lunch Mon-Fri, 11:30
am to 2:30 pm, and for dinner Mon-Fri, 5:00pm to 9:00 pm, and
Sat, 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
|
Art-Professional Profile
Julie Newland
By Steve Coray
Julie Newland wears a variety of hats. To the general public,
she is the Programming Coor- dinator at VSA Arts of Utah (Art
Access). A more select crowd knows her as a fine craftsman of hand-made
papers who also instructs others in the
the art. And to Sam (pictured here with Julie in her studio)
she's just plain "Mom."
After graduating in the arts from Arizona State
Univeristy, Julie Newland worked in several different administrative
roles, always hoping to be more involved in the arts. Then, early
in 2000, she got her chance with VSA Arts of Utah. Now, as Programming
Coordinator, she oversees the organization's programming in schools,
assists with other programming as well as various bookkeeping
and other office duties. It's a role she tackles with great passion
and energy.
Newland the artist has been making paper
since 1992, when she took Beginning Papermaking as one of her studio
courses while working on a BFA in Photography. She studied with papermaker/printmaker
John Risseeuw, who also got her involved with the national papermaking
organization, The Friends of Dard Hunter.
About her art, Newland states,
"I really love learning new techniques and artforms and make
it a point to learn and practice a new craft or artform each year.
Papermaking has been the one constant through the years, so I dug
deep and invested in setting up a full papermaking studio in
1997". Her major equipment includes a 2 lb. Hollander Beater, an
industrial size paper dryer, and "found" presses.
Newland claims to have only one client,
a professional calligrapher in North Carolina. "We work on custom
wedding invitations together. I also have cards in a few gift shops
around town, and have stationery in the Art Barn holiday show each
December."
Newland also periodically offers papermaking workshops. "I
really enjoy actually USING my equipment and making
it available to someone else as a resource". As a single
mom with a full-time job and limited free time, Newland sees
the workshops as a way to justify the long, twelve-hour day in the
studio that papermaking requires.
"Julie Newland held a private workshop on papermaking.
I spent the day Saturday enjoying the short course, which made
me appreciate the art of handmade papers. I must admit that
I was pretty proud I created over fifty papers, (which should have
cost me $244 if purchased through Daniel Smith). I began to appreciate
the craft and art of making papers more, and see the possibilities of
this valuable lesson which should save a tree or two and promote a fine
Utah craftsman keeping a tradition alive." -- Garth Coleman
Newland was gracious when Artists of Utah approached her about
being the first subject in our new recurring feature, Art Professional
Profiles. "I think it is a wonderful idea to share more of what
everyone does. Studio visits are a great idea, but usually exclude
a lot of folks like me that live out in the boonies".
If you have ideas for our next art-professional profile, email us at
artistsofutah@netzero.net.
Artist Resources- Utah Arts Council
Artist Resource Center at the Rio Gallery
By Laura Durham,
Asst. Visual Arts Coordinator
photos by Steve Coray
It's an ideal morning inside the Artist Resource Center -- the
sounds of papers turning, printers printing and the tapping of computer
keys fill the room and even spill out into the Rio Gallery that shares
the same space inside the historic Rio Grande Depot. While one artist
thumbs through The Crafts Report to find the latest deadlines
for fairs and competitions, another artist photocopies the business
and marketing articles in Art Calendar. At the computer, a new
artist in the area prints out her resume and researches the local gallery
listings while I bring her a pile of brochures and grant applications to
help her on her way.
Although the ARC is fairly new, the idea for it
was conceived several years ago, back when it was merely a closet
full of books and papers. Now the ARC provides a covey of additional
services -- at no cost -- to any artist that makes an appointment to
stop by. Not only does the center provide periodicals and books on marketing
artwork, applying for grants, guides to national services and legal
issues, the ARC also has a copy machine available, a computer and a
printer and even a dual-deck VCR for media and performing artists to make
copies of their work.
The Artist Resource Center welcomes an average of six to eight new
artists a week and claims a handful of regulars who return periodically
to take advantage of its services and stay on top of all the local
competitions and grant deadlines. But the space was built to accommodate
more. Several college professors and art teachers bring their classes in
to introduce them to the facility, so the word is getting out and the
numbers are increasing.
" I am a new artist
and was so glad to find a center with so much information in one place.
Everything that I needed to get started was right here. Access to the
facility was very convenient and Laura was very accommodating and supportive.
I am excited to come back!"
--Dawnae Zobrist, visual artist
"The things I use most in the ARC are the business
publications and the art fair source books for finding shows to exhibit
in."
Scott Roach, furniture craftsman
The ARC also hosts free workshops for artists. The
workshops focus on the business and marketing aspect of being an
artist (the not-so-exciting but essential skills every artist needs
to be successful). The workshops have helped artists apply for grants,
market their crafts, present their work to a gallery, answer their
legal questions and we have even helped them file their taxes.
In October, the ARC will be hosting,
in conjunction with Artists of Utah, a workshop on artists and websites.
The workshop will include ideas on creating, marketing and using
a website as well as nuts & bolts information on how to go about
doing it. The workshop will be held Tuesday, October 8th, from 6-8pm
at the Artists Resource Center.
The Artist Resource Center is open Monday
through Friday 9-5, but an appointment is strongly recommended
to be sure someone will be here to help you and even prepare some
information for you. Please call 801-533-3582 or email ldurham@utah.gov
for an appointment, or go to the website to find out more:
www.arts.utah.gov/visarts/resourcecenter.htm
|
