Stroll down the streets of Sugar House this Friday, Sept. 11, to engage in the work of artists at the Summer Season 2015 Sugar House Art Walk one last time before the season ends.
“The Art Walk is an opportunity for Sugar House businesses to support artists while bringing new potential customers and long-time supporters to those businesses hosting a gallery event,” said Bekke Robb, owner of One World Gifts.
One World Gifts consistently contributes to the Art Walk. In addition to displaying artists’ work, One World Gifts hosts an artist’s reception every month to highlight artists in the gallery. This month they are featuring the works of Dana Rapallo, an abstract painter, and Liane Monroe, a stained glass artist.
“We participate because we love to support artists,” Robb said. “As a fair trade store, we are not only able to support local artists but also international artists, which, in turn, educates the local community about artists living and working in fair trade communities.”
Other businesses, including Unhinged, Local Colors, Smith Crown, The Green Loft, One World Gifts, Rockwood Studios, Artistic Framing Co., Sugar House Coffee, Brittany Golden Studio and Cameron Wellness Center are contributing to this event. The businesses form a line down 1100 E. in Sugar House.
Artists featured at The Green Loft this month are Majorie McClure, an oil and encaustic painter, and Susan Makov, an acrylic and oil painter. In addition to the opening reception, The Green Loft will be debuting its brand-new rooftop patio with a live DJ on Friday.
“The Green Loft participates because the cooperative business owners want to support a thriving Sugar House community, including the visual arts,” said Kristina Lenzi, curator of The Green Loft exhibitions.
According to Lenzi, the purpose of the Sugar House Art Walk is to give the public an opportunity to see the work of other artists.
“As a curator, I am passionate about the contribution that artistic expression makes to a vibrant community,” Lenzi said. “Artists want to interact with communities they live in, and I enjoy contributing to that process.”
Artistic Framing Co. shows only local and original artwork in the Art Walk hoping to inspire people to support local art and artists. Owner Scott Waters said he does this “to bring local art to the masses.”
“Too many people don’t understand how well you can express your personality by purchasing and hanging local art,” Waters said. “The local artists share the same experiences on a daily basis that we all do living in Utah.”
Local Colors of Utah features artwork from Bruce Aoki, who specializes in black and white photography, and Gary Snow, who specializes in painting. Jeff Clay, the vice president of the Local Colors executive board pointed out the significance of having two very different type of artists featured in the gallery.Local Colors holds artist receptions every month.
“Sugar House is such an up-and-coming place, and we get a lot of walking traffic,” Clay said.
Clay said it is important to be present in Sugar House and the artist community. He said “if you’re interested in art, you need to see what’s out there.”
The next Art Walk is this Friday, starting at 6 p.m. and ending at 9 p.m.
“Sugar House is an incredible, growing and vibrant neighborhood,” Robb said. “We want art to remain a large part of the feel of Sugar House as the neighborhood continues to grow and change.”