EVENT: UMOCA Presents John Bell’s The Next Supper – A Dinner Happening Sept. 28, 7 p.m.

UMOCA Presents John Bell’s The Next Supper – A Dinner Happening
Sept. 28, 7 p.m.

Salt Lake City, UT – – On Sept. 28 at 7:00 p.m., UMOCA will host a private performance by nationally-emerging artist John Bell. During Bell’s performance, the 68 guests will be seated at a long table in UMOCA’s Main Gallery and invited to finish Bell’s partially completed canvasses using as raw materials the dinner and other objects on the table in front of them. 

“Taking part in this dinner happening will be like being in a surrealist painting as it is being painted,” said Bell.

The screen prints created by Bell with text and images will serve as both provocation and backdrop. Bell will encourage guests to use their food and other elements on the table, including wine, candle wax, flowers, and utensils, to react to and complete the canvases. The artist will assume the role of facilitator and documentarian and the result will be a participatory work of art between the artist and dinner guests. The food for the evening will be created by Ryan Lowder of The Copper Onion, with special attention paid to the color palette of the meal. 

“We are deeply grateful to John Bell, Ryan Lowder, Mary Fresques, and all of the others who will make this singular evening possible,” said Adam Price, executive director of the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art. “John’s performance highlights important democratic and participatory themes in contemporary practice. I’m especially excited because John is so terrific about engaging the creativity of his guests.” 

Visitors to UMOCA on the night of Sept. 28 will be able to observe the dinner and performance from the walkways over the Main Gallery. In addition to the performance, Bell will mount an exhibition of work.Proceeds from the evening will be used to support UMOCA’s community offerings.

The Next Supper is the third iteration of what Bell describes as “dinner happenings”. He hosted an earlier iteration of his performance in the streets of Los Angeles’ Chinatown last summer during which an enthusiastic public vied for a coveted seat at the dinner table. Watch the video here: http://vimeo.com/27654982.

About John Bell

John Bell describes his work as postmodern mash up. He combines abstract expressionism, geometric abstraction, pop art and other movements in contemporary art. Primarily a painter, Bell is a multi-disciplinary artist incorporating print making photography, sculpture, text, installation and performance art. His work depicts wide ranging themes from social to political, popular culture, media and the public domain to comment on, and understand, the complexities of contemporary American culture.  www.artistjohnbell.com

About Chef Ryan Lowder

Utah native, Ryan Lowder, chef and owner of The Copper Onion will bring his personal take on New American cuisine to The Next Supper dinner with an approach inspired by his passion for Utah’s outstanding farmstead ingredients and his experience as a chef cooking his way through Barcelona, NYC, and South America. For his part in the evening, Lowder will create a meal that not only has outstanding flavors, but also offers guests a suitable color palette for their part in the evening’s performance.  www.thecopperonion.com

About UMOCA
The award-winning Utah Museum of Contemporary Art exhibits groundbreaking artwork by local, national, and international artists. Five gallery spaces provide an opportunity for the community to explore the contemporary cultural landscape through UMOCA’s exhibitions, films, events, classes, and presentations.

Founded in 1931, the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art has been recognized as Best Museum in the State of Utah for 2011 and 2012 and is a four-time recipient of funding from the Andy Warhol Foundation.

Located at 20 S. West Temple; open Tuesday-Thursday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Friday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Saturday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday. Admission is free. For more information call  (801) 328-4201 or visit www.utahmoca.org.