Salt Lake City > Vegas | Part I of Driving to London

My trip actually started the week before Valentine's Day, when I took the beast (my 1994 Saturn SC2) in to get a new water pump. I had had a coolant leak in it for a little over a year, but hadn't found a mechanic I trusted. When I finally found the great guys down at Airview Texaco (1700 South, 1100 East — and they're full-service!), I was just too busy to leave the car for a day... but this trip was important, and I didn't want a failing water pump to keep me from seeing my sister, wishing my old roommate well on the eve of his wedding, or catching my plane. So I took her in... and a few hours later, she had a new water pump and coolant reservoir — and I had the confidence I needed to drive to London.

Instead of going out on the town, like I did last year, for Valentine's Day, I stayed home and packed... Then on Thursday morning, I hit the road.

My plan was to stop-in at BYU and have Reid — my barber — cut my hair for the trip. Then a breakfast date. But the breakfast date fell-through, so I stopped-in at the BYU Museum of Art to check-out their Beholding Salvation exhibit. Very very nice... and I was happily snapping photos of my favorite works until I was informed that photography wasn't allowed — though no sign said as much — by a surly she-guard.

* mumbles about the excesses of copyright *

But the exhibit was nice enough to inspire a visit to the museum store, where they had a lovely book for sale — with most, though (infuriatingly) not all the pieces featured. I also grabbed one for my sister.

After that, I hit the road in earnest and arrived in Henderson (Nevada) at 4pm. Right on time. It was good to see my sister and two of her three children. And after I passed-out some gifts that had been accumulating — including a hoodie for Chael from War Regime — my sister and I headed-out for dinner at Kona Grill. Tasty food... neat ambiance... smelled weird in the back. But a wonderful evening when all was said and done.

Next Stop: Los Angeles!
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Photos from this leg of the trip can be found at my flickr account... starting with this photo I took at the museum.

Eine Kleine LightMusik

So. Um. I want one.

Insect Lab

Christmas is over, but a boy can still dream, right?

Mike Libby's artwork is amazing, and I wouldn't mind owning one or two of his current works.

Beautiful Dreamer: $500

So tonight is this month's gallery stroll. A chance to visit Salt Lake area art galleries ( that are normally closed after 6 )... to schmooze a little... to sample a little gnosh... and to see some beautiful artwork. Now, mind you: it's not always good. I've seen my share of disposable art — but even disposable art inspires.

So why mention it?

Well, tonight, in conjuction with the gallery stroll, there will be a studio sale at the Uffens, featuring works by four area artists: Tom Aaron ( who really needs a web site! ), Mark Elliot, Holly Mae Pendergast, and Dallas Graham. If you're not familiar with the concept of a studio sale, it's less formal than a show, and the artwork featured is often priced significantly less than it would otherwise be... and it's a wonderful opportunity to build your collection.

The studio sale is from 5:30 – 10:00 p, tonight.

If you can't make it tonight, I understand that they will open tomorrow with works not available tonight — a perfect companion to your trip to the farmers market!

Remember: bring cash or a check book. No credit cards accepted.

UPDATE: I spent the evening sitting and chatting with my friends at the studio sale... and then a little while this morning. From all accounts, the sale was a resounding success. You should have been there.

And me? Well, I walked away wishing that I had an extra $3,000... and the happy owner of a lovely and amazing photo by Dallas Graham. So ts'all good.

Curiouser and curiouser...

I'd like to introduce you to the absolutely intoxicating art of Jessica Joslin.

Thanks Drawn!

Recommended Viewing: Eric Grohe's Trompe l'Oeil Murals

The subjects and execution of Eric Grohe's murals are what set him apart.

I especially like his Liberty Remembers mural and the murals he did for the Miller Brewing company.

The poignant irony of all of this, of course, is that murals (Eric's and others') too-often stand-in for quality civic development.

Faux skies in malls do nothing to quench the human spirit's thirst for nature, and the classical architecture rendered in delicious perspective by masters such as Eric are, themselves, only imitations of what our soul really hungers for: civic spaces that celebrate humanity and nurture the naked pedestrian.

I can only imagine what amazing things Eric could do if he were given something more befitting his masterful eye than the back-sides of ill-conceived boxes — because, all-too-often, his mural is the only saving grace the building has to offer.