"Tis the Season" Exhibit @ Rio Gallery (Dec 3 - Jan 11, 2011)

For immediate release Wendi Hassan, 801.236.7548
24 November 2010 Communications Specialist, Utah Division of Arts & Museums

Claudia Nakano, 801.859.8443
Communications Director, Utah Dept. of Community and Culture

‘Tis the Season Exhibit at the Rio
Winter and Holiday Art from nearly 40 artists

SALT LAKE CITY — ‘Tis the Season, an exhibit featuring the winter and holiday themed work of 37 artists opened at the Rio Gallery December 3. The show will continue Mondays through Thursdays from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm through January 11, 2011. The Rio Gallery is located at 300 South Rio Grande Street (455 West) in Salt Lake City.

"Curating an exhibit with a theme as personal as the holidays is challenging enough,” says Gallery Stroll Executive Director Kristina Robb who curated ‘Tis the Season,“ but making your way through the depth of talent in Salt Lake is even more challenging.” For help, Kristina turned to Brad Slaugh, Meri DeCaria , Lyndsie Peppinger, Greg Rogler, Tom Adler, and Mikell Stringham . “Brad took the time to explain the smallest details of work by a hundred local artists which led me to many websites and studios and piece by piece Meri introduced me to what would become the backbone of the exhibit. With the help of other gallery owners and directors, a collection of fine work from some very talented people representing my experience of the holidays in Salt Lake City came together."

Artist Brad Slaugh who helped organize the show was also asked to participate as a featured artist. “Organizing a show like this is like inviting a bunch of your favorite people over for a potluck,” says Slaugh. “You're not entirely sure what you will end up with but that the mix will somehow end up being more interesting than anything you could have art directed.”

Artists represented include Amy Adams, Heidi Atkins, James Baker, Paul Vincent Bernard, Lane Bennion, Erin Berrett, Doug Braithwaite, Aaron Bushnell, Carlilse, Joe Carter, Denise Crane, Lee Deffebach, Stephanie Dykes, John Erickson, Lindsay Frei, Brent Godfrey, Nel Ivancich, Patricia Kimball, John McCarthy, Hyunmee Lee, Marwan Nahle, Lori Nelson, John O’Connell, Gerald Purdy, Hadley Rampton, Angie Renfro, Steven Sheffield, Brad Slaugh, Dennis Smith, Tony Smith, Charley Snow, Doug Snow, Michael Souter, Kathryn Stedham, Regina Steinberg, Tracy Strauss, and Maryann Webster.

For more information visit the Division of Arts & Museums website at www.artsandmuseums.utah.gov or contact Rio Gallery Manager Laura Durham at ldurham@utah.gov, 801-533-3582.


About the Utah Division of Arts & Museums
The Utah Division of Arts & Museums is a division of the Utah Department of Community and Culture with a goal to promote innovation in and the growth of Utah’s arts and culture community. The Division provides funding, education, and technical services to individuals and organizations statewide so that all Utahns, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity or economic status, can access, understand, and receive the benefits of arts and culture. Additional information on these programs and services can be found at www.artsandmuseums.utah.gov or by calling 801.236.7555.

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