Eustis student participates in Salt Lake City art tour

Amber Lange of Eustis went on the trip along with Mackenzie Carlson of Trenton, Emma Codr of Lincoln, Samantha Hill of Gillette, Wyoming, and Katherine Hoeke of Rapid City, South Dakota. Art Professor and Department Chair Mary Donahue accompanied the students.

The group visited the Utah Division of Arts and Museum, Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, Utah Museum of Fine Arts and the Spiral Jetty. They were also able to view architecture and history in Salt Lake City.

At the Utah Division of Arts and Museum, students viewed the state art collection with Collections and Visual Arts Manager Karen Krieger. They also toured offices and learned about state arts and museum operations and programming from Communications/Marketing and Literary Arts Manager Alyssa Hickman Grove.

A notable exhibit students saw was “As the Lake Fades,” emphasizing the importance of Great Salt Lake to residents and wildlife of Salt Lake Valley, at the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art.

Students also toured Temple Square, home of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.

The students also heard a performance in Sonic Blossom at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts by opera soloist Sheldon Baxter, a Master of Music graduate from the University of British Columbia, Canada.

Art Guild Secretary Samantha Hill said she values the connections she made between her Elements of Art course and the artwork at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts.

“One of my classes in the fall semester was Elements of Art with Mary Donahue; in this class we learned about the different eras and cultures of art,” Hill said. “While walking through the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, there were many eras and cultures expressed. I was able to recognize different art eras and what different art forms they used. There were multiple moments when I had those aha realizations and told Mary that I remembered talking about the certain art eras and cultures, presented in the museum, in her class.”

Art Guild President Mackenzie Carlson said she found beauty in the interactions and experiences on the trip.

“I believe my favorite part was the interactions with the artwork and the people I got to see the incredible pieces with,” Carlson said.

The Spiral Jetty, a land art sculpture created by Robert Smithson, located in Rozel Point of the Great Salt Lake, was a valuable element of the trip, according to several of the students.

“My favorite part of the trip was when we went to the Spiral Jetty and the Great Salt Lake,” Hill said. “I love being outdoors and loved seeing the Spiral Jetty by Robert Smithson.”

Hill appreciates the experiences she gained during this trip.

“I am a person who learns well through experience,” Hill said. “This trip allowed me to see examples and pieces of art instead of seeing them on a computer screen. I could not have asked for a better group to go with either, I made so many connections and learned so much on this trip. Nothing can beat this type of learning experience.”

Carlson wants students to know that anyone is welcome to join Art Guild and attend future trips.

“I think everyone should know that they are welcome to join Art Guild even while not being an art major,” Carlson said. “We have some requirements to go on the trip, but we see new areas of art and collaborate together throughout the year. I am so incredibly excited to see where we go next year and will forever cherish the chance I got to see these wonderful places and artworks.”