No doubt, the pandemic dampened the momentum for nourishing Utah’s already healthy appetite for poetry as an oral art form. But, despite this year’s slimmer, shorter Utah Arts Festival, slam poetry competitions for individuals and teams — among the biggest audience draws for the festival’s Literary Arts stage — are back. Coordinator Dorothy McGinnis says … Read more
Among the new additions to this year’s Literary Arts programming at the Utah Arts Festival are the invited groups of student writers from various Utah colleges and universities, including Utah Valley University, Weber State University and the Brigham Young University’s master of fine arts program in creative writing. Also of note is that Salt Lake … Read more
This year’s Artist Marketplace of 95 artists includes 16 who are making their first appearance at the Utah Arts Festival. They include Chris Rasmussen of Three Forks, Montana, and Cody Steffler of Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. CHRIS RASMUSSEN One of the 16 artists who is making a first appearance at the festival’s Artist Marketplace, Chris … Read more
Among the headliners being featured at this year’s Utah Arts Festival are Salt Lake City’s Will Baxter Band and native Idahoan Jeff Crosby who will be performing with The Refugees. Will Baxter Band (Aug. 27, 8:15 p.m., Festival Stage) When Will Baxter moved from Fort Collins, Colorado to Salt Lake City, it did not take … Read more
This year’s Utah Arts Festival features some of the most successful, widely acclaimed local bands. Among them are Pixie and the Partygrass Boys and Brother. Brother. (Aug. 28, 5:15 p.m., Park Stage) Brother., the indie rock band originating in Provo, had ambitious plans in 2020. Performances were slated at SXSW and Treefort, as part of … Read more
The performing stages at this year’s Utah Arts Festival features an impressive range of styles, aesthetics, approaches and genres from local musicians. Among the artists representing hip hop this year are Zac Ivie and Dumb Luck. Zac Ivie and Ocelot (Aug. 27, 10:15 p.m., Park Stage) Just days before the pandemic erased every performing artst’s … Read more
For the new exhibition in the City Library which coincides with the Utah Arts Festival, a quote from Clare Hunter’s 2019 book Threads of Life is fitting for what it conveys. “Fabric and thread can convey.a prayer, trace out a map, proclaim a manifesto send out a warning, bestow a blessing, celebrate a culture and … Read more
This year’s Utah Arts Festival brings three world premieres in its jazz commission program, representing the 2020 and 2021 winners: Steve Erickson and Tyler Chen, respectively. Their pieces will premiere Aug, 27 at 6:30 p.m. on the Festival Stage with the Salt Lake City Jazz Orchestra. Tyler Chen: Acclimation and Blues for Courtney In middle … Read more
This year’s Artist Marketplace at the Utah Arts Festival may be smaller but the 95 artists selected for the three-day event reflect the same rigorous process that has produced significant depth in the creative spectrum represented in the visual artists. With an expert jury, led by coordinators Matt Jacobson and his assistant Sarah Baker Taylor, … Read more
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Utah Review begins its preview coverage today of the 45th Utah Arts Festival, which will be held Aug. 27-29 (noon to 11 p.m. on Aug. 27 and 28 and noon to 9 p.m. on Aug. 29) on the Library Square in downtown Salt Lake City. As this is the state’s largest multidisciplinary … Read more