2015 Urban Arts Festival – SLUG Magazine

The SLC Urban Arts Fest took over Gateway Mall for a day to showcase some of the best artists around. Photo: Matthew Windsor
B-Boys putting in work in front of the stage. Photo: Matthew Windsor
Nomad and Codell came down from Portland, OR to bring their brand of hip hop to the Urban Arts Fest. Photo: Matthew Windsor
B-Boys coming through to get the crowd hyped. Photo: Matthew Windsor
SLC’s own Dine Krew. Photo: Matthew Windsor
Shelbadine of Dine Krew. Photo: Matthew Windsor
Shelbadine from SLC’s Dine Krew getting into it. Photo: Matthew Windsor
Erasole James of Dine Krew. Photo: Matthew Windsor
Shelbadine takes a moment. Photo: Matthew Windsor
Erasole James keeping the energy up. Photo: Matthew Windsor
Erasole James with the tip bills. Photo: Matthew Windsor
Lost, The Artist bringing in the crowd. Photo: Matthew Windsor
Booths and tents lined the street from one end of Gateway to the other. Photo: Matthew Windsor
SLC king Burnell Washburn. Photo: Matthew Windsor
Burnell Washburn performing with Lost, The Artist. Photo: Matthew Windsor
Burnell Washburn and Lost, The Artist getting it done. Photo: Matthew Windsor
Lost, The Artist decided to forgo the stage and get up in the crowd’s face. Photo: Matthew Windsor
Burnell Washburn and some enthusiastic fans. Photo: Matthew Windsor
Walking from one end of the Gateway to the other led you past everything from rappers, graffiti artists, food trucks and families relaxing in front of the fountain. Photo: Matthew Windsor
Bombshell Academy playing some ska/pop-punk jams. Photo: Matthew Windsor
Ashlie Longo and Brian Mackay of Bombshell Academy. Photo: Matthew Windsor
Ashlie Longo and Brian Mackay of Bombshell Academy. Photo: Matthew Windsor

On Saturday, July 18, The SLC Urban Arts Festival brought some much-needed life to the Gateway Mall in downtown SLC. Although the similarities between the Urban Arts Fest and the Utah Arts Festival are obvious, the differences became much more clear while walking down the closed off streets lined with various vendors and performers. With the tall, adobe colored buildings of the Gateway looming over the narrow street, the Urban Arts Festival brought visitors more up close and personal with the artists. A hip hop stage showcased some of the best hip-hop Salt Lake City has to offer, displayed prominently in the center of the fest. Artists of all types were able to show off their hard work in a fest that perfectly echoed the vibe of the outdoor mall that surrounded it. Drawing spectators in is always a difficult task, but with free admission and something for everyone on display, the Urban Arts Festival added a fresh take on the summer festival season in downtown Salt Lake City.