Time for Fall Open Studios. Things are a little bit different this year - it's on a Saturday and we'll be open for two hours from 4 to 6 before the real party starts from 6 to 10.

I'll be selling prints of some of my favorite paintings.

For all the details, go here.

That Thing You Hate

I am excited to be participating in a show called "That Thing You Hate," curated by Namon Bills. The show opens at the Alice Gallery at 617 E South Temple in Salt Lake City on September 20th at 6:00 pm.

Here's a description, written by Namon:

Each artist in this show has dedicated themselves to doing something they hate. Not just anything they hate — something they recognize as having value, even though they dislike it. Working alongside an accomplished mentor in the media they have chosen, they work to develop skills in that particular area. Both the artists and their mentors will have work in the show. Mentors and artists include: Jeffery R. Pugh and Namon Bills, Chris Terry and Justin Wheatley, Casey Childs and Linnie Brown

More information and some images of the work can be found here

Review in 15 Bytes

A big thanks to Shawn Rossiter for putting this together:

http://artistsofutah.org/15Bytes/index.php/justin-wheatley-at-finch-lane-gallery/

Mighty/small at Whitespace Contemporary

I'm excited to have some work at Whitespace in Ogden. Whitespace is a relatively new gallery that is bringing in some incredible work.

Check it out at:
http://whitespacecontemporary.org/email/0913_MIGHTYsmall.html

Finch Lane Show

I've lived in Salt Lake City for seven years now and grown to love it. Salt Lake is a mid-sized city with big dreams. The population is increasingly diverse as are the opportunities. I live on the west side but often find myself working or communicating with people on the east side. Most of us west siders do. Living where I do has made me really consider what the location of a home means. Does it define a person or a family? In many ways it does. It is common for a person to ask me if I feel safe when I tell them where I live. Yes, I do. It's just as safe on my street as it is on yours.
This show, "Salt Lake City: Chain Link and Welcome Mats," is, in a sense, a portrait of Salt Lake City. Though there are no people in the art work, the work is all about people. Salt Lake people.

If you received a postcard . . .

Yesterday I sent postcards to residents of the homes that will be part of a piece called "Family Values." If you received one of the cards, let me explain the premise of the show.

I have lived in Salt Lake City for over seven years. In that time, I have lived in several neighborhoods on the east and west side. I've loved every place I have lived. For about eight months I have been driving around Salt Lake City taking photographs of homes in every neighborhood. My goal is to put together a portrait of the city we live in. The show will include both photography/mixed media work and paintings. As the work has come together, I began to realize that there aren't any people in any of the pieces. This is where you come in. In order to add the element of humanity to the whole project, I would appreciate your attendance at the show. I think it would be fascinating to socialize with the people that live in the homes that are a part of the work. If you have never been to a gallery opening before, it is a casual event where you can come and go as you please, it's family friendly, and there will be refreshments. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at justwheat@yahoo.com.


Here's the press release sent out by Finch Lane Gallery, which is associated with the Salt Lake City Arts Council:

ARTISTS JUSTIN WHEATLEY AND AARON ASHCRAFT EXHIBIT THEIR WORK AT FINCH LANE GALLERY

Salt Lake City-- Two new exhibitions at the Finch Lane Gallery explore the theme of relationships. Justin Wheatley’s mixed media installation Salt Lake City: Chain Link and Welcome Mats examines the city from an east side/west side perspective, while Aaron Ashcraft’s sculptured ceramics focus on the relationship of textures found in nature in his exhibition called Conversations. The exhibitions run August 9 through September 27, with an artists’ reception on Friday, August 9 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Regular gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with additional evening hours during the Salt Lake Gallery Stroll on August 16 and September 20, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. All events are free of charge.

Justin Wheatley has lived in Salt Lake City for the past seven years and now calls it home. For the last few years, Wheatley has been creating a body of work about Salt Lake City, and these pieces will be exhibited at the Finch Lane Gallery. Though the show lacks imagery of people, the people of Salt Lake City are the subject of it. Salt Lake City: Chain Link and Welcome Mats explores the different sides of our city, where people are welcomed and also where they are asked to keep out. Wheatley uses photos, acrylic paint, and collage to create these works.

Wheatley says of his work, “During the day I spend time as an artist and teacher with students on the west side. Many of them are struggling financially. Through exhibiting my work I have become acquainted with many people from the east side who are financially more stable. Both sides of the city are full of good people. Both sides have many secrets.” This exhibition explores and exploits some of those secrets.

Wheatley’s recent exhibitions include the 2013 Spring Salon at the Springville Museum of Art, the 2013 35 x 35 exhibition at the Finch Lane Gallery, the Bountiful/Davis Art Center, and a 2010 solo show at the Kimball Art Center. He was named an “Artist to Watch” in Southwest Art Magazine in 2011. Wheatley’s studio is located at Poor Yorick Studios and he is represented by Coda Gallery in Park City, the 15^th Street Gallery, and at Evergreen Gallery.

Although he has been working in ceramics for many years, Aaron Ashcraft began a new series in 2011. This work was begun by drawing on flat slabs of soft clay with a variety of tools and media, replicating textures found in nature. Dark brown iron bearing clay was brushed with white slip clay, and the interaction of the two clays provides greater sense of depth when fired in the kiln. Additional black brush lines compliment the textured marks in the clay. Glazes provide contrasting areas of color and smoother textures. Ash sprinkled on the surface adds a final layer.

Three dimensional works quickly followed the slab pieces and stiff, angular forms began to turn and twist with cutout sections to mimic the human form. Ashcraft notes, “It’s all about creating a dense combination of textures, glazes and colors that enhance form and make the viewer look closer, spending some time to really understand what’s going on.” He invites viewers to join the “conversations” happening within each piece.

Ashcraft serves on the boards of the Red Kiln Clay Studio and Gallery and Clay Arts, Utah. He recently exhibited at Art Access Gallery with his 2013 exhibition Biomimicry, at the 2012 Utah Statewide Show at the Rio Gallery, and with the Clay Arts Utah Group Show in 2012 at the Patrick Moore Gallery. He is currently represented by galleries in Arizona and Colorado, and at Patrick Moore Gallery in Salt Lake.

Who:               Artists Justin Wheatley and Aaron Ashcraft

What:              Finch Lane Gallery Exhibitions

When:             August 9 through September 27, 2013

Where:                       Art Barn, 54 Finch Lane in Reservoir Park

Finch Lane Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and during monthly gallery strolls from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. For additional information, contact the Salt Lake City Arts Council, 801.596.5000 or visit www.slcgov.com/arts.

Finch Lane Show

I'm really excited about this show. It's a culmination of the work I have been doing for the last five or so years.

Blue House on 9th

Blue House on 9th

24" x 24"

Acrylic

Park City

Park City

48" x 24"

Acrylic

Alpine Art Represented Artists Show

A Few Holga Camera Shots

 Brooklyn Bridge

 Multnomah Falls, Oregon

Wall Street

4th South 5th West Warehouse

4th South 5th West Warehouse

35" x 35"

Acrylic

Seattle Library REM 8" x 8" Series

12" x 12" Acrylic Studies

Art Access 300 Plates 2013

Every year Art Access, a non-profit gallery in downtown Salt Lake City, has a show called "300 Plates." The plates, made of recycled aluminum, plexiglass, or steel, are given to local artists to make into art. These are my two plates. Read more about Art Access and the event at: http://www.accessart.org/support-us/300-plates-fundraiser

Slice of Life, Pasadena CA

Slice of Life, Linus Gallery, Pasadena, California

This piece, San Francisco Streets, will be a part of the juried show Slice of Life at Linus Gallery in Pasadena, California. The show opens April 26th.

35 x 35 Artist Interviews

This link will connect you to a video showing interviews with all 35 of Utah's up-and-coming artists. I'm somewhere in the mix.

Springville Spring Salon

I'm happy to announce that this painting was selected to be a part of the Springville Museum of Art's Spring Salon. This is one of the most prestigious exhibitions in the state and it's a thrill to be a part of it. The Spring Salon is April 20 - July 7.

From the Pavement, Gallery East, Utah State University Eastern

Review of "From the Pavement" in The Eagle

Here's a link to USUE's online newspaper review:

http://eagle.ceu.edu/article/gallery-east-presents-art-facades

The same story can be found in Price's Sun Advocate

From the Pavement: solo show at Utah State University Eastern

35 x 35 Show

I'm really happy to be part of the 15 Bytes 35 x 35 show! It includes 35 artists under 35 years of age and there is some incredible work. The opening reception is this Friday (March 8) from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. Finch Lane Gallery is located at 1st South 14th East in Salt Lake.

https://www.facebook.com/events/161092170711712/

Two Honorabale Mentions at the Bountiful/Davis Art Center Statewide Competition

http://www.bdac.org/news/news_releases_2013_02.htm

REM

 

REM

35" x 35"

Mixed media

Bountiful/Davis Art Center Statewide Competition

I will have two pieces at the upcoming statewide competition in Farmington. Here's a link to the list of other artists who will have work:
http://www.bdac.org/news/statewide_competition_juror_results.htm

5th South and 4th West

5th South and 4th West

Acrylic

12" x 12"

Gavin's Underground Interview

As part of the Rose Park Artists show at Art Access, I was interviewed by Gavin Sheehan of City Weekly. Gavin had some great questions that really helped me be introspective on what the meaning of the show was all about. Check out the interview here.

Here are a few shots from opening night, and more photos taken by Gavin can be seen here.

An Appearance On Utah Style

When Jenny Samuelson's home was featured on Utah Style & Design's blog, she sent me a link so I could see where one of my pieces hangs in her home. It's in the second photo down, on the right side.

City Weekly Article

The Rose Park Artists show is at the top of the What To Watch In 2013 list, according to City Weekly. The show opens Friday, January 18th from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Art Access (250 South, 500 West, Salt Lake City. It is a casual, free, family friendly event.

http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/article-2-16922-what-to-watch-in-2013.html