This upcoming art talk looks intriguing, and one of Gallery MAR‘s artists, Bridgette Meinhold, will be speaking. I’m going to try to make it, and you should too.

Environmental Art: Visual Arts and Literature: “A discussion about the connections among the environment, art, and activism.”

Current Artists in Residence at Spiro Arts (writer-Nancy Lord) and (visual artist-David Sullivan) will discuss their work and ideas, relative to environmental concerns, moderated by Park City artist/eco blogger Bridgette Meinhold. Each resident will address specific concerns to their hometowns of Alaska and Louisiana, how these concerns may relate to Park City, and the role of art in wrestling with environmental issues.

Date and Time: Thursday, May 12th (6 – 7pm)

Location: Spiro Arts at Silver Star – Central Studio Building, 1825 Three Kings Drive, Park City UT 84060

Cost: Admission is free and open to the public. A $5.00 donation is recommended to help Spiro Arts sustain its mission

About Spiro Arts: Spiro Arts is an Artist in Residence community and workshop center, located in the beautiful Silver Star community in Park City, UT. Situated on a historic mine site adjacent to Park City Mountain Resort, the rustic architecture and newly restored mine buildings provide a unique setting for Spiro’s multidisciplinary programs, while also serving as headquarters for Park City’s Sundance Film Festival. Spiro Arts hosts a diverse community of visual and literary artists while offering residencies, open studio events, a public lecture series, conferences, life drawing sessions, art auction gala, and a summer workshop for adults and children.

For additional info visit: http://www.spiroarts.org/

Upcoming Events at Spiro Arts

Artists in Residence Open Studios

The Open Studio Events are free and open to the public, come share an evening with our Artists-in-Residence. All open studio events take place at Spiro Arts central studio building, located at Silver Star. A $5.00 donation is recommended to help Spiro Arts sustain its mission and programs.

Friday, May 20th (6 – 9pm) and Friday, July 22nd (6 – 9pm)

Tonight was a  successful night for our non-profit awareness Gallery Stroll. Many Park City galleries joined with area non-profits to raise awareness for each group, and raise funds in many cases. Gallery MAR teamed up with Recycle Utah, and we were able to raise several hundred dollars for their cause, all through $10 Opportunity Drawing donations.

Tonight’s lucky winner is Andy Beerman, owner of Park City’s Treasure Mountain Inn, “the only meeting/conference property in the Historic district, we are carbon-neutral,earth-friendly, with sleeping rooms that comply with AAA’s 4-diamond specifications” [with quote courtesy of Treasure Mountain Inn's website].

Congratulations to Andy and to Recycle Utah for all that you do!

This is your final week to enter Gallery MAR‘s Recycle Utah fundraiser.

Just $10 enters you in our Opportunity Drawing to win an original encaustic painting by local Park City artist Bridgette Meinhold.

“Bee Conscious”: Encaustic Art and Benefit for Recycle Utah

PARK CITY—Honey bees take the stage for this exhibition of encaustic works by local and regional artists. Enjoy the latest works in this ancient, wax-based medium. Without our friendly, buzzing neighbors, we would be without 90% of our tastiest foods and medium for the encaustic art form. This exhibit will be mounted to raise awareness for the plight of the honeybee, one of nature’s most cherished and necessary animals. Works by encaustic artists Bridgette Meinhold, Gretchen Papka, and Shawna Moore will be featured.

This “Bee Conscious” event kicks off a month-long fund raiser for Recycle Utah, culminating in Park City’s Non-Profit Awareness Gallery Stroll on Friday September 24th. Gallery MAR is selling $10 opportunity drawing tickets to benefit Recycle Utah, throughout the month of September. Enter to win your own “Bee Conscious” encaustic artwork by a local artist and find out the lucky winner at the September Gallery Stroll.

Who: Artists Bridgette Meinhold, Gretchen Papka, & Shawna Moore with Recycle Utah and Gallery MAR

What: “Bee Conscious” exhibition, honeybee awareness, and Recycle Utah fundraiser

When: Now until the Opportunity Drawing for Recycle Utah, on Gallery Stroll night, September 24th.

Where: Gallery MAR 580 Main Street, Park City, Utah www.gallerymar.com

Shawna Moore

• “Bee Conscious” Exhibition August 20th-22 and Recycle Utah Fund Raiser

Honey bees take the stage for this exhibition of encaustic works by local and regional artists.  Stop by this weekend to view the latest in this ancient, wax-based medium. This exhibit will be mounted to raise awareness for the plight of the honeybee, one of nature’s most cherished and necessary animals. Works by encaustic artists Bridgette Meinhold, Gretchen Papka, and Shawna Moore will be featured. Montana-based Shawna Moore will also hold an encaustic painting workshop at the Kimball Art Center, details below.

Gretchen Papka

This “Bee Conscious” event kicks off a month-long fund raiser for Recycle Utah, culminating in Park City’s Non-Profit Awareness Gallery Stroll on Friday September 24th. Gallery MAR will be selling $10 opportunity drawing tickets to benefit Recycle Utah throughout the month of September. Enter to win your own “Bee Consious” encaustic artwork by a local artist and find out the lucky winner at the Gallery Stroll.

Bridgette Meinhold

Bridgette Meinhold, from her “Family of Trees” series, Encaustic, 2010

Last fall, I purchased one of Bridgette Meinhold’s figurative encaustic and mixed media works from Phoenix Gallery’s miniature show. The artist dropped by my gallery a few weeks later and introduced herself. As I came to learn more about Meinhold (formerly Steffen), I decided to add her works to our 2nd Annual Local Fireworks show, here at Gallery MAR this weekend.

Where she lives, this artist has nature at her beck and call, and her pieces are inspired by her surroundings– aspen trees, mountain vistas, wildlife, and the changing seasons. In her latest encaustic works, we are seeing families of trees as they grow and change with each season (see above). The surface quality of her wax paintings is thick and lush– many layers go into each work, and graphite transfers are common. Later this summer, we will feature a group of works inspired by the plight of the honey bee, for our “Bee Conscious” series.

Last night, I visited Meinhold in her studio in Brighton Estates, over the back of Deer Valley. She lives there with her fireman husband Matt, on what they call the “Meinhold Compound.” Dog Cooper met us at their door, and we got a tour of the grounds (see below for pictures). Her studio and Matt’s workshop are each a divided half of a reclaimed shipping crate. They’re insulated and rigged the crate into a lovely (albeit narrow) space in which to work. Their whole space is incredible, and the hiking straight from their front door is divine. What a life…

Come by the gallery on Saturday from 3 to 5 pm to meet Meinhold and all of our local artists for our “Local Fireworks” celebration.

The Meinhold compound and [shipping container] studio