So...I did an art night. And it was a RAGER. A fabulous group of people gathered together to make some spectacular abstract art, drink wine, and have an all around marvelous evening. 

Roughly 20 people came to the illustrious Hardware Village Apartments  in downtown Salt Lake to learn how to collage with bleeding tissue, a thin paper that "bleeds" color when water is applied to it.  Aside from the art-making, the snacking and beverage service was beyond reproach, liquid light shows played on a giant TV screen, and attendees had the opportunity to take a post-art dip in the infinity pool on the deck.

Whereas other art instruction workshops tend to encourage people to paint the same representation of something (i.e., "Ok, let's get started painting this Eiffel Tower."), abstract art night is, well, abstract. When the finished product is not "supposed" to look like anything, it takes the pressure out of the creative process, so it's more about personal expression than technical execution. Creativity should be accessible for everyone, regardless of previous experience or preconceived notions of talent.

I can't express my gratitude enough for the magnificent Eric Brown, a 21st century real estate agent who inspired me to host this event and hooked me up with the Hardware Village Apartments. (Looking for a house? Check him out here: 

I will (almost) definitely be leading another art night at Hardware Village within the next couple of months. In the meantime, I would like to organize an intimate art-and-dinner soiree at my domicile in South Salt Lake. Private art instruction is also on the horizon.

Stay tuned for more shenanigans!

A masterpiece of one of the art night students. A wondrous panoply of crystalline awesomeness!!!

Showing people a thing or two about a thing or two. :)

They all be like, "Art is SUPER!"

Chris is channeling outer space into his art with planetary formations n' such.

June 14th is the downtown Salt Lake Gallery stroll, and I am so excited to be curating an exhibition featuring the work of my students! I teach art to adults with developmental disabilities at TURN City Center for the Arts. We normally show work every month at our own gallery, but this month we will be the featured celebrities at Art Access. (I get really excited about going to classy soirees.) Small(ish) in size but large in impact, Art Access builds an inclusive and diverse arts community in Utah through creative opportunities for people with disabilities and other marginalized communities (quoted from their website). As the flyer suggests, this exhibition will feature depictions of the artists' favorite things, along with descriptions that tie the works into the theme for the show.

Huzzah for happiness and humans!