Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Carole Mikita Reporting
Utah's longest-running organization for the visual arts is celebrating its 75th anniversary. The Salt Lake Art Center is offering a retrospective exhibition to mark that history.
It's intriguing that during the Depression, in 1931, a group of artists thought that Salt Lake City needed a permanent showcase in the community, where creative works would not only be exhibited but be the focal point for provocative discussions.
Walking through the decades with the creations of Utah artists, this retrospective represents some of the notables -- J.T. Harwood, LeConte Stewart, Bonnie Sucec. This concept began in 1931 with a few people who thought big.
Ric Collier, Director, Salt Lake Art Center: "This group of volunteers had done exhibitions with 14 Vincent van Goghs, they'd done exhibitions with Diego Rivera. All these major collections had come through here, and made stops in Salt Lake City."
Those artists influenced Utahns, who are now doing the same for others. The works of 24 artists in this show helped build the reputation of the Salt Lake Art Center, now marking its 75th year. The art center helped increase their visibility.
Ric Collier: "Really is about the artist and art and their response in this community or a larger community in the region about issues of a civil, social or aesthetic concert, and how do the artists help us as the lay public see those issues clearer."
Very early on, the salt lake art center, tackled controversial issues, like nudity in art or prohibition. That topic was part of a discussion that actually raised the original money for the Art Barn.
Initial funding for The Art Barn, located near the University of Utah, also came from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That was the home to the art center until 1979, when it moved to the site next to Abravanel Hall.
It has suffered budget woes and been the center of arguments over exhibits, but the director who's been there the longest still refuses to charge an entry fee and insists on showing works that cause people to think.
The Salt Lake Art Center is open Tuesdays through Saturdays 11am to 6pm, 9pm on Fridays. The retrospective exhibit "Looking Back" will remain through October 14th. Admission is free.
