Backstage at The Utah Arts Festival 2015: The story of Jake Buntjer and Mister Pauper in the Artists Marketplace

Mister Pauper is an artistic persona. Growing up, he followed an organized, well-chosen path both of practicality and spirituality which would have likely set his adult life securely, even as influences, desires, imagination and dreams subtly pushed him further toward unfettered creative pursuits. There were hesitations and doubts, waiting to be reconciled at the right … Read more

Backstage at The Utah Arts Festival 2015: Richard Hall gifted touch of contemporary realism in still life, landscapes

Richard Hall often comes up with the title of his painting before he has the image in mind. A native of Yorkshire in England who also worked for many years in the fine arts publishing business, he says in an interview with The Utah Review, “I enjoy the play on words. When I find what … Read more

Backstage at The Utah Arts Festival 2015: Lena Prima, Santa Fe and The Fat City Horns, Frank Vignola and Vinny Raniolo, Erin Harpe highlight Day 2 headliners

The Utah Arts Festival’s second day of headliners honors some of America’s greatest musical institutions from the cities of Las Vegas and New Orleans to the great tradition of American song and jazz standards translated beautifully in the music of Lena Prima and to the virtuosity of two great guitar players and the contemporary interpretation … Read more

Backstage at The Utah Arts Festival 2015: ‘Juno,’ ‘Andante,’ ‘Hang On,’ ‘And Then There’s That’ highlight music, dance commissions

A blizzard and musical inspirations from two great composers and the unique therapeutic sounds of the handpan inspire this year’s newest Utah Arts Festival commissions for music and dance. The chamber music commission is sponsored by The Mandel Foundation. Robert Honstein, Juno, June 27, 4 p.m., City Library Auditorium Robert Honstein, 35, is in the … Read more

Backstage at the Utah Arts Festival 2015: Out into the streets, Kurt Wenner’s art resonates in profound social significance

Focused on tackling the consequences of what remains a large cultural problem that has, as he explains in an interview with The Utah Review, “really dislodged artists and set all of them out in the streets,” Kurt Wenner lived in austere conditions as a young artist – even camping out in a sleeping bag in one of … Read more

Utah Blues Festival is great music for a good cause

Carrie Scott Courtesy of Utah Blues Society

It’s summertime! Time for outdoor music concerts, food trucks and fun. Grab your lawn chairs and your dancing partner and head down to the 1st annual Utah Blues Festival on June 13, from 1-10 p.m. at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center. This musical festival is designed to both support local musicians and a local cause: … Read more

Making the most of their differences: Arcane’s trio of musicians in Spy Hop’s newest band

Whatever their differences in family, religion, school interests, or even musical tastes, three Utah teens have come together in an extraordinarily rewarding and productive way in Spy Hop Productions’ musicology program. The only students who have completed one of Spy Hop’s rigorous year-long programs in music and media arts, the three teens who comprise the … Read more

Meet Salt & Smoke Artisan Meats

Salt & Smoke Artisan Meats' owner and butcher Frody Volgger

“Frody will be breaking down a pig on Friday,” Cassie Little, sales manager of Salt & Smoke Artisan Meats, tells me. It’s my first chance to go behind the scenes of Frody Volgger’s newest venture — a butcher shop focusing on heritage pigs, European-style sausages and specialty meats. I’m to meet a photographer from The … Read more

Torrey House Press gains momentum as a literary test lab for new American West voices

More than two decades after Wallace Stegner, the dean of Western writers, died in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a new generation of writers has emerged to empower the voices of activism and advocacy in conservation and preservation, especially through the intellectual and cultural forces of literary fiction. However, these new authors also take on equally … Read more

Even Stevens, serving more than food

To say Even Stevens’ sandwiches are good is an understatement. Couple that good food with a conscience and a mission of changing their community, and you have something great. For every sandwich sold at Even Stevens, another is donated to a local non-profit helping to end hunger in the community. But the company is so … Read more