Beginning earlier this year, a group of Park City gallery owners and directors made the move to take ownership of the Park City Gallery Association into the hands of the galleries. They are working to create their own website, www.parkcitygalleryassocation.com (love the new logo), along with their own awareness, advertising and marketing campaign to promote the stroll and Park City arts. From what I’ve heard, everyone is working well together and “good things” are happening… Congratulations!

Previously, the Kimball Art Center headed the Association and was known as the starting off point for the monthly stroll. And prior to that (a few years back) there was an individual association run by gallery owners. It seems that the group is now coming full circle with the Park City galleries as heads of the Association. From what I have been able to discern, with this new organization, the Kimball Art Center will be a part of the stroll and Association, but there will not be a charge for the stroll (previously $7) paid to the Kimball. This means more responsibility, time and effort for the galleries, but also more say in the organization and operations of the Association.

I’m looking forward to joining the new Park City Gallery Association and participating in the strolls along with the promotion of Park City arts. The Kimball Art Center does a fantastic job of bringing arts to our locals and visitors, and we’re fortunate to have them as a part of our arts community. Check out their current exhibit of Erin Berrett’s work if you’re in town. With their new leadership, I’m optimistic that the Kimball will work together with the Park City Gallery Association to do great things.

Watch in the coming months for the new brochure, the completion of the website, and a new energy and level of involvement from the galleries here in town. Gallery MAR will be featured on the new map/brochure, as well as the website, and will participate in every monthly stroll.

What a fantastic weekend for our Park City art community! Many thanks to our local artist Brooks Yates for coming by the gallery to paint here and delight our guests. This weekend was incredibly hot (both the temperature and the art!) and packed to gills every day with festival-goers. Friday night was the best night by far, in my opinion, with locals streaming through and picking up artistic goodies to add to their collections. Favorites of the 225 artist? Salt Lake painter Erin Berrett and Seattlite Brian McGuffey. Congratulations to the Kimball Art Center on their very successful annual auction on Thursday night and the popularity of the festival on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

It’s hard to believe that this is the Kimball Art Center’s 39th year hosting the Park City Arts Festival. Congratulations! This is the largest art festival in Utah, with growth every year.

As always, Main Street will close down on Friday afternoon to allow the artists and craftsmen to set up their booths. On this night, locals can check out the booths in a free sneak peak starting at around 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The official festival kicks off on Saturday, August 2nd from 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. and runs through Sunday, August 3rd from 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 225 artists will showcase their wares and live music; 3 beer and wine gardens, and delicious food will entice you to stay all day. There’s also a Kids’ Corner featuring activities including face painting and art projects to keep the little ones busy.

“How to Fest”:

• Park at the Park City Mountain Resort lot and take a 5 minute bus to Main Street, or carpool with friends and park in one of the Marsac lots.

• Arrive early and walk up one side of the street during the coolest part of the day. Grab a Navajo Taco and a beer for lunch at the top of Main, then stroll down to see the other side of the street.

• Come at night and make a reservation at one of your favorite restaurants. My pick? Artichokes and trout on the patio at Cafe Terigo, or blistered beans and sushi on Shabu’s deck.

• Take a full tour before making any purchase decisions. Ask the vendor to put the piece in hold for 30 minutes if you need some time to think. Can’t live without it? Snatch up the piece right away… many vendors sell out and your piece may not be there later!

• Don’t forget a visit to Gallery MAR at 580 Main Street– we will have Utah artist Brooks Yates performing an artist demonstration on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“Sunny Side of the Street” by Jan Perkins, Oil.

On Thursday night Park City was graced with the musical talents of Feist, an “indie” singer and songwriter whose voice is delicate, soothing and yet powerful all at once. Her concert was one of the many outdoor music events that the Park City Performing Arts Foundation puts on and was sponsored in part by two friends of Gallery MAR, Jon and Leslie Snavely.

A packed crowd waited for the sky to darken and the concert to begin. At around 9, Feist finally took the stage and a light show of sorts began. I say “of sorts”– after such a long wait the result was not as dramatic and I had hoped for. Little bursts of light here and there, pulsating to the music. Ho, hum.

The light show continued to develop as it got darker. Behind the musicians, on the backdrop of their stage, we saw enormous hands criss crossing and dragging paint into shapes and scenery. Turns out they had an artist live on the stage who was created the pieces on a light box which was then transferred to the big screen. The pieces they created, each in line with the lyric to a song, were temporary and washed away as the songs ended. Stencils and objects were also projected over the light box, and at one point two of the artists worked together to join hands and form new imagery.

I have to say, it distracted me from the performers and the music (the light box was quite bright), but it was a fun idea and a fresh way of showing artwork.

Jessica Peterson, of the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, is calling for new members to the Young Benefactors group. I am a member, and want to encourage all young and arts-interested readers to attend one of the recruitment events coming soon.

Jessica writes, “We want to take advantage of this year’s blockbuster exhibition, ‘Monet to Picasso,’ and use this opportunity to introduce new people to the Museum and to the Young Benefactors. We will be hosting two morning/breakfast YB recruitment events on August 7 and 15. On both dates we will begin with an informal gathering and light breakfast in the board room at 8am, followed by a private tour of “Monet to Picasso” lead by Jill Dawsey. If you know of other people who would enjoy participating in the Young Benefactors, please provide me with their names and contact info (address, phone, email) no later than Wednesday, July 16.” Her phone number at the museum is 801-585-0464.

Thank you for Randy Barton for hosting me on his afternoon radio show. This past Thursday he gave me 30 minutes in which to chat about the gallery. Randy’s show live, weekdays from 4 to 7 pm and features local guests, enticing commentary, and provocative subjects. And the occasional gallery girl plugging her artists.

It’s 7PM and 95 degrees, but the shade from the Salt Lake City and County building casts a cooling shadow over the first evening of the Sale Lake Arts Festival. Because this was the opening night, perhaps, the place was packed the energy was incredible last night. All of these people coming together to celebrate Utah Arts- visual, musical, literary, performing, and more. It’s truly inspiring.

The Artist’s Marketplace is the backbone of the fest, with 133 artists from all over the country. Some favorites to watch out for: Richard Curtner (booth 11), Erin W. Berrett (booth 21), Aaron Fritz (booth 96), and Brian Blackman (booth 132) just to name a few. For families, art booths like the Mad Hatter and a recycled materials-based playground keep the kids busy. Live music comes at you from all directions- stages spot the grounds. Also, the food selection was quite nice. All the of the expected fair foods, along with Thai noodles and even a beer and wine garden.

Because of the heat in the city, I’d recommend you go at night, grab some corn on the cob and sit by the library water feature to enjoy the people watching. The festival runs until Sunday, every day until 11 pm in Library Square.

Park City’s own Art Festival, sponsored by the Kimball Art Center, is this August 1-3, right here on Main Street. We will be open all weekend long and will feature an artist demonstration by Brooks Yates on Saturday from 11-2, right here in the gallery.

I’m sitting in the gallery on a divine Friday night as Jazz wafts through my windows. It’s the Park City Savor the Summit- an old event now revitalized and taking over Main Street. Sponsored by the Park City Jazz Foundation, it looks like it’s already a hit! Here are the details:

“FREE live jazz on 4 stages, street dance, beer and wine garden in front of the Main Stage (Post Office), 7pm siren signaling a “Toast To the Town”, and a community drum-circle. Come to Main Street and celebrate Park City’s longest dinner party, seated at a table set right down the middle of Main Street. Over 500 people dining together at The Grande Table.”

What a fantastic idea. It’s incredible to see the town come together- this is why we love Park City! Missed your dinner reservation? You can still participate in the Grand Picnic tomorrow from 3-6 at City Park. Visit http://parkcityjazzfoundation.vpweb.com/ for more information.