CURRENT EXHIBITS
SANDY BRUNVAND
Ecotone
On view in Halleck Bar Gallery until December 1, 2024
My art practice begins on the trail – typically on my
favorite portion of Bonneville Shoreline Trail in the
foothills of Salt Lake City, Utah. My repetition begins on
foot. I often find myself marking steps like a measure of
music. Often, this is in groups of four beats: One, two,
three, four, two, two, three, four. This rhythm made by my
feet is the backbone to the experience. It not only moves me
through the space, but it is also the drum beat that keeps me
moving steadily. Since relocating to the SLC Avenues and
starting graduate school 25 years ago, I have hiked this loop
habitually. Hiking in the same area almost every weekday is
inspiring for me. In fact, I thrive on it. I’m greeting old
friends as I walk through the space: the rocks on the trail,
the tiny little soft leaves and Lazuli Buntings in the spring,
the humans and canines, and the ever-changing clouds are
all familiar. Lush and soft deep green grasses turn to dry,
gorgeous yellow late/mid-summer. Winter brings chill,
bright white snow and gnarly black branches that now come
to the visual foreground. This is where my subtle color
palette resides, in the black and white of winter. Perhaps
this palette is an unusual choice, however I find beauty in
the stark value shift and intricate detail. I recently began
visiting other trails, as part of a new habit, in Teasdale,
Utah. Slowly I am getting to know a secondary home base,
walking the dog in an entirely different setting, with
different plants, and different skylines. Trading the
northern flora and fauna for a red toned world of the high
desert filled with hares, tumbleweeds, and so much more
has been fascinating. I’m finding new ways to expand my
explorations of my personal Ecotone.
A new layer of conceptual exploration has evolved in
my work in the form of Ecotone. The term Ecotone was
popularized by Florence Krall, an educator and nature lover.
Ecotone is a transitional zone between two adjacent
communities, containing species characteristics of either, as
well as other species occurring within the zone. An
Ecotone is defined by the edges, where differences meet,
where diversity makes a stronger… space, ecology,
community, or human. Krall also believes the term extends
the metaphor to social spaces: "Cultural ecotones are the
pluralistic contexts out of which conflict and change
emerge." Within my own interpretation of Ecotone, I create
transitional zones between different artistic approaches and
media - between previous work layered with new ideas on
paper. This creates a subtle tension with conflict and
adjoining rhythms contributing to a different cadence and
resulting in unique Ecotones within the work.
-Sandy Brunvand
LIZZIE WENGER
To Be Changed By the Land
On view in Barrick Gallery until December 8, 2024
Through flowing lines, shape, and color, my work
studies western landscapes in acrylic on canvas. Guided by
exploration, my own experiences in the outdoors influence
my work with my creative process beginning in the
moments I spend in the spaces I paint—rock climbing,
mountaineering, and white-water rafting drive my own
connection with the outdoors. From snowcapped summits
to red rock canyons, I hope to create a sense of connectivity
between people and places, encourage a sense of
stewardship, understanding of human relationships with the
outdoors, and the importance of responsible recreation
ethics.
-Lizzie Wenger