Utah Arts Festival Returns

One of Salt Lake’s biggest summer events, the 2012 Utah Arts Festival is set to return to downtown Salt Lake City June 21-24. For 36 years, the Utah Arts Festival has showcased the talents of Utah’s art community, while also featuring outstanding artists from around the country.

Texas singer and songwriter James McMurtry will kick off the festivities on opening night. For four days and nights, visitors can catch a full range of musical styles including:

• Americana rockers, Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash
• Contemporary bluegrass group, Blue Highway
• Hip hop artist, Sonny Bonoho
• World music ensemble, Chicago Afrobeat Project
• Gospel and soul band, Mike Farris and The Roseland Rhythm Review 
• Rock and soul band, the Joe Jordan Experiment
• Israeli guitar virtuoso, Oz Noy
• Brooklyn-based funk and rock ‘n’ rollers, The Pimps of Joy Time
• Bluesman, Curtis Salgado
• New Orleans’ Stooges Brass Band
• Reggae artists, Third World
• Contemporary jazz by Tizer featuring Karen Briggs

The festival will feature artist Pilar Pobil’s exhibit “Expressions in Color.” Pobil will speak about her life and work during a gallery talk on June 21 at 6:30 p.m. followed by an opening reception at 7 p.m. She will also host a hands-on workshop on June 22 and 23, from 1-3 p.m. Participants will work on embellishing a picture frame using the techniques Pobil uses with her own artwork. She will have the frames prepped and will provide paints, brushes and stencils. Pre-registration is required with a limit of 12 students per class. The fee is $25 per person, per workshop.

During the festival, sand artist Ted Seibert will create a giant sculpture out of 20 tons of sand on 200 East and 400 South. The sculpture will be completed mid-Festival sometime between June 21 and June 24. Festival-goers will be able to watch the sand evolve into a work of art. Seibert is at the helm of the Sand Sculpture Company, whose sculptors have set a total of six world records.

The festival also includes poetry slams, a short film festival, comic book workshops, an interactive urban art project and a petting zoo for kids. Admission is $10 for adults and free for children ages 12 and under. Four-day festival passes are $30 per person.

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