A Stroll of Park City Galleries on a Monday Morning / Journal Assignment #2
After a bleak and brown one hour drive passing a dozen dead does (and one buck), grotesquely laid to rest in the median, I enthusiastically arrived on Main Street in Park City, Utah, primed to witness colorful awe-inspiring art. Anxious and without direction, I began my leisurely stroll up and down the resort towns off season, fairly empty, morning sidewalks in search of a stimulating and cultural experience. My morning quickly turned into a lesson in what not to do but in the end I was learned and impressed enough to qualify myself as a moderately versed guide to the Park City art scene.
My first major accomplishment was finding the public restrooms after downing a full cantina of coffee on the drive then stepping out into the frosty mountain air, no gallery would stand a chance if I was doing the pee-pee dance. Relieved and finally ready, my stroll began South or uphill on the West side of Main. I quickly spied my first studio which wasn’t difficult because there are twenty galleries nestled within three short blocks. The David Merrill Gallery & Studio was locked and not a soul in sight. Next, I passed Park City Colors, then, Terzian Galleries, followed by the Meyer Gallery, all closed. Most of them had hours on the doors that mentioned either “seasonal,” “closed Monday’s,” or “open at 11:00 am” or later. First lesson in strolling art galleries in PC, don’t arrive at 10am on a Monday and expect to find many open galleries.
Already a bit disappointed, I continued and arrived with skepticism at the Mountain Trials Gallery which is the most southern gallery before I would begin hiking right up the ski hill. At last, an open door. Upon entering this western display of native American’s, cowboys, and bear sculpture’s I set my standards low expecting a disappointing trip into faux mountain culture with cutesy items designed to lure the pocket emptying tourist instead, I was rather impressed.
Heavy with sculptures, a medium I personally am less attracted to, this gallery stole my attention. Despite the cheesy wall sculptures attempting to satisfy the extreme adventurer with mediocre rock-climbing and snowboarding pieces, the remaining sculptures were remarkable in detail and western emotion. The building itself was suited to the mountain theme with an original brick wall and many wood pedestals. High ceilings led the eye to the rear exposing a beautiful wooden staircase and small upper deck presumably used only for employees.
I moseyed to the back of the gallery where finally the only person working and I exchanged salutations. With a casual and shaky voice I explained my quest to the gallery host who showed interest and was open to questioning. I began with the basics and learned the following, this particular gallery hosts around thirty artists at any given time and the artists set their own prices. Approximately eleven of the artists are local. December through March is the busy ski season in Park City and thus the busiest time for sales. This being mid November, it’s nearly the slowest time of the year for patrons although the busiest time for gallery owners as they prepare for the upcoming season. Most importantly however, this gallery opens at 10:00am.
An oversized, in-the-round, classic Wells Fargo stagecoach action sculpture arrested my curiosity. Six overly animated horses pulled this wild-west coach scene past a spooky Sleepy Hollow type tree. The detail was exhausting from thin horse reins, to expressive faces, this piece displayed superb craftsmanship noticeable to any novice art admirer. Again I questioned the worker, and learned that all the sculptures were made of bronze through the lost-wax process. I felt cool knowing what he meant when said that. Also, most of the color was accomplished via the patina method although some ornate sculptures did contain areas of hand painting.
Mountain Trails Gallery additionally houses sculptures by Gary Price. A quick bio on the gallery’s website reveals major accomplishments by this Springville, Utah resident. In 2001, Gary was awarded the “Governor’s Mansion Artist Award,” and his work graces the covers of many magazines and books. Supplementing his success, in 2005, Gary, was selected to sculpt the 300ft Statue of Responsibility on the West Coast to bookend the Statue of Liberty on America’s East Coast as envisioned by Dr. Viktor E Frankl in 1971. Utahans can witness Gary’s art adorning the landscape of buildings in and around Salt Lake City. Upon exiting the Mountain Trails Gallery a small Gary Price sculpture of boys inter-tubing rests upon a cement street post.
Warmed up and satisfied with my first Park City Gallery, I moseyed across the street and headed North or downhill again passing a plethora of closed galleries. If it wasn’t for the construction workers and sparsely parked cars I would think this resort town was a ghost town. A squished mall entitled “the Galleria” was promising as the doors were open and inviting. Upon immediately entering the narrow plaza a short staircase to my right led to Gallery Mar. A quaint well positioned gallery on the second level of this antiquated building, Gallery Mar used their space well.
I was instantly greeted as I stepped through the open door. Two young, distinctive, and attractive ladies behind a short desk looked up from the shared computer with cheerful smiles and said, “Hello.” Now that is how one should enter a gallery. Maren Bargreen, the gallery’s owner promptly stood up and introduced herself. Coy but confident, I again explained my quest as a student on a mission to visit galleries. This impressed and led to questioning and inquisitiveness from both ladies, either that or they are really good at their job. Maren then handed me a “Park City Gallery Guide,” good to have, containing a map and short briefs of the main galleries in town. She also informed me of the official “gallery stroll” ensuing every Friday night with additional information to be found online at parkcitygalleryassociation.com.
After our cordial introductions, I began to browse the modest display of art housed within. With white walls and an oversized front window, lighting wasn’t a problem and the space felt warm although the paintings were less stimulating than as hoped. The pieces appeared skilled and singular but didn’t cater to my tastes, maybe a bit feminine? I did find a couple encaustic pieces that drew my attention. They were mounted on thick wooden elongated blocks and the design was modern. I inquired about the encaustic medium and learned that there was a gallery in town that housed many more encaustic pieces which was a rarity. The gallery however was not on Main Street, therefore, not on my immediate list of places to visit. I logged pieces completed in acrylic, mixed media, and bronze to round out the gallery.
Before leaving I spotted a winter scene painting complete with the Grinch, this fun little piece was more to my tastes. Although the work housed within this gallery was maybe not something I would be immediately attracted to, I believe this would be the first gallery I would visit upon returning to Park City because of the kind, informative, and unpretentious treatment.
Now eleven in the morning, I continued my stroll and again crossed the street, and headed South, in hopes of finding more open galleries. I made a brief queer visit to a fur gallery where I was sized up obviously twice by the salesman and apparently didn’t impress. I suppose I don’t scream the need for a $2,000 plus dead animal hanging from my shoulders. That was gallery in name only. Lesson number two, just because a store uses the word gallery doesn’t necessarily mean its art although I’m sure some would argue. The man did guide me next door to the Dancing Hands Gallery however.
This glass vase paradise was perfect for the retiree with no kids anywhere near the fragile artwork. A boisterous lady was feather dusting the vases and loudly welcomed me. She knew immediately that I was not there to purchase anything but was genial just the same. I again repeated my quest of the day and she was receptive although continuing with her hasty detailing of every vase. I forced myself through the freakish display of blown glass until I finally rested upon something interesting, a giant glass egg with the picture of a rooster on it entitled, “Which Came First.” Besides this one humorous composition hidden in a sea of gaudiness and orderly hung rugs on the walls there was nothing else enlightening or worth my time. The best part of glass work is watching someone make it. That, I believe is the true art. The end product unfortunately isn’t as fascinating as the actual glass-blowing process itself.
Continuing on, I entered the Scanlan Windows to the World Gallery. This Husband and Wife photography team makes a living traveling the world and snapping some beautiful photos. I learned from speaking with Maren, Owner of gallery Mar that photography is a hard medium to sell because it can be reprinted basically forever. Prints aren’t as original and thus for a true collector are not as attractive as other mediums. Judging from the prints in this gallery however, the Scanlan’s are doing just fine.
The gallery manager, with whom we openly shared similar life dreams of finishing school and starting a business (weird), revealed the fact that use of a medium format film was the secret in capturing most of the vibrant images contained therein. Most prints were oversized and framed in glass although a handful were printed directly onto canvas giving them texture and a more painted feel. Window’s to the World was an apt name in that I noted images from Tuscany, Prague, Ireland, the Dolomites, Paris, Portugal, Utah, and even West Virginia. Wonderful images yet commercial in nature therefore less stimulating than Acrylics made for a nice visit but still lusting for some more traditional pieces.
Welcome my final gallery of the day, the Hope Gallery and Museum of Fine Art located on top of the hill across from the first gallery of the day, Mountain Trails. This expansive gallery housed a private collection with nothing on consignment. This gallery boasts original art from the 16th to the 21st century. I liked the fact that the only worker took a brisk morning smoke break upon my entrance leaving me alone in this gargantuan tomb of classic art. Finally, I thought, “the real thing.” Not to discount the artistic levels of what I had previously experienced on my morning stroll but this classical display was akin to what I had been studying the last thirteen weeks of class and thus related more in my mind of what I was searching for.
Feeling rushed to see all the paintings in this very large building I moved quickly out of the first room down the hall toward the back but was stopped immediately by a woodcut displayed on a sidewall. This woodcut looked familiar, and upon further inspection I recognized the unique signature of Albrecht Durer. The name plate simply said “Private Collection” and was titled, “The Four Angels Restraining the Winds.” This was the first time I felt like I was in the presence of true historical art. It was an original and not for sale. Because it was a woodcut however it was sort of cheating in that many prints can be made but I was still awed and completely satisfied with my discovery.
I made my way through the rest of the gallery without finding another piece that affected me like the Albrecht Durer piece but every painting was incredible indeed. Other artists held and offered for reprints included, Rembrandt, Bloch, Degas, Renoir, Zorn, Munch and many more. Third and final lesson was to keep searching, because Park City does offer some incredible pieces of art.
I left the Hope Gallery content that my Park City Gallery stroll was a success despite the inauspicious beginning. I witnessed famous local sculptures, met and conversed with gallery owners, received the beta on when and how to “gallery stroll,” and finally witnessed some classic art that really humbled me. I’m not about to write a guide book to art in Park City but at least I now know the basics of making a great day out of the galleries available on Main Street. On my one hour drive back to Ogden, I couldn’t stop thinking about the Albrecht Durer piece. I felt like I had met a famous person and finally received a taste of why so many people are enamored by great art.
( Albrecht Durer - "The Four Angels Restraining the Winds" )
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