Gallery Stroll – August 2011

Businesses and galleries are fighting for a piece of the local art palette. The layout, format and even the players in Salt Lake’s art scene are always changing. Change can be good, as long as you are up with the times and know where to go to find what you crave.  Thanks to the powers that be (SLUG’s insightful and cutting edge editorial staff) I’m happy to keep you informed of the whos, whats and why-wouldn’t-yas of Salt Lake’s Gallery Stroll.

Broadway Summer Stroll by the Downtown Alliance is now Artiscene On Pierpont. What started last summer as an event to augment the monthly Gallery Stroll on Broadway is now moving to the historic Pierpont District at 300 W. Pierpont Ave. Artisans without a brick and mortar location downtown set up their wares in tented booths in hopes of capitalizing on street traffic and increasing the visibility of the gallery stroll.

Pierpont was the place to be on Gallery Stroll before a collapsed sidewalk halted pedestrian traffic and artists vacated under the threat of month-to-month leases, but Pierpont is fighting its way back. I’m hopeful this little push will remind people of all the history and local flavor Pierpont Avenue has to offer. Amp up your Gallery Strolling with Artiscene on Pierpont, happening Friday, August 19 and September 16 in correlation with the Salt Lake Gallery Stroll from 6-10 p.m.

How do you find unconventional underground art—that is, besides the fingertips of your favorite SLUG Gallery Stroll columnist? How about an art stroll curated just for the unconventional artist? The Black Sheep Stroll is the renegade newcomer to Gallery Stroll and the brainchild of High Life Salon owner Melinda Ashley. Ashley, an artist and stylist herself, has been curating shows in High Life Salon since July of 2007 and wanted to expand the public opportunity to experience local art.

“After three years of exhibiting art every month, we decided to take six months off and regroup and come back with a stronger presence,” says Ashley. The result is the The Black Sheep Stroll.  The concept is simple: Look for the black sheep logo in windows of businesses that support the unconventional and underground artists. Think of it as a treasure hunt for the hipsters.  Currently, shows are committed through November of this year. August’s show features photography by Weston Hall on the 19 from 6-9 p.m. at the High Life Salon at 245 E. Broadway.

Business is good when the people cry “MORE.” That’s exactly why Signed and Numbered has opened a new and larger location at 2320 S. West Temple. Owner Leia Bell is thrilled with this expansion.

“This new framing space provides a faster turnaround and more space for larger projects. It houses our full wood shop, so we can do all of our framing in one glorious, large space,” says Bell. Bell plans to move her screen printing studio into the space and eventually begin offering workshops to the public.

Enjoy the changes, take in the new and the old, and most of all, celebrate your local art scene!