WASHINGTON COUNTY — The fourth annual “Arts to Zion” art and studio tour began Thursday and continues until Monday at 3 p.m. This self-guided tour provides more than 30 private and public galleries available for art goers to visit.
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The tour, sponsored by newly developed Southern Utah Art Guild, provides the opportunity for the public to see the diversity of art within Washington County.
In past years, tour-goers have been able to attend without a ticket. However, this year everyone is encouraged to get a tour guide and a ticket, which costs $10 and can be found at various locations including:
- St. George Chamber of Commerce, 97 E. St. George Blvd., St. George
- Juniper Sky art gallery, 851 Coyote Gulch Center in the Kayenta Art Village, Ivins
- Silver Reef Museum, 1903 Wells Fargo Drive, Leeds
- Worthington Gallery, 789 Zion Park Blvd., Springdale
- The DiFiore Center, 307 N. Main Street, St. George
- Authentique Gallery, 199 N. Main Street, St. George
- at the door for any of the “After-Hours” locations listed below,
- on the Arts to Zion website.
Many artists, including Nick Adams and Gina Jrel, have studios in the Washington County area to develop and share their work. Adams said his art is photography and he also shares friends’ work in his studio including work from Russell Wrankle, an assistant art professor at Southern Utah University. He has a studio where he can shoot various portrait photos as well as for weddings.
Read More: ‘Arts to Zion’ tour showcases art from within community; silent auction preview
“I’m very interested in shooting portraits of people,” Adams said. “It’s kind of my medium. In order to do that you kind of need a longer room.”
His studio at 459 N. 1300 E in St. George is in the industrial part of the city and is included in the Arts to Zion tour. Adams moved to his studio location in 2011 and has transformed the space into a studio, office, and gallery to assist his clients and interested art lovers.
Adams’ neighbor and artist Gina Jrel said she has been doing art for 37 years. Jrel is described as a contemporary and stylized painter by the Utah Artist Hands website.
“How I describe my art is that it is a stylist form in that it’s not abstract, and it’s definitely not traditional,” Jrel said. “It has more conceptual things and symbolism.”
People don’t often get to see where the artist works or where all “the magic happens,” Jrel said. Giving people that chance in the Arts to Zion tour is a great opportunity.
“It’s a neat sneak peek of the artist’s environment,” Jrel said.
Bonnie Conrad, a western artist, said she lived on a ranch and has always loved sharing that part of her life and expressing it through her paintings. Conrad’s studio is located at 2824 Woodbury Circle in St. George, one of the private studios included in the tour.
“After Hours” parties and special events
While gallery tours end at approximately 3 p.m. each day of the tour. Every night will include social events called “After-Hours” parties with refreshments, entertainment and featured artists, open exclusively to “Arts to Zion” ticket-holders.
One portion of Thursday’s “After Hours” party included Shauna McCullough showing dolls she creates out of clay, and Lola Krummernacher and Fiona Phillips painting at the Split Rock Gallery.
“There’s something I really enjoy about creating Native American dolls,” McCullough said. “Then Christmas comes around and I like to make Santa Claus dolls as well.”
The rest of parties scheduled follow:
Friday from 8-10:30 p.m., an “After-Hours” masquerade ball will be held at the 13th and Park Art Space, hosted by Nick Adams and Gina Jrel. People are encouraged but not required to attend in costume.
Saturday from 7:30-10:30 p.m., the final evening “After-Hours” party will be held at Zion Brew Pub, featuring artist Royden Card and the band Sala Tumanuvao and The Shakedown, joined by special guest musician John Houston.
Other public events
Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m., gallery walks are open to the public downtown St. George and in Springdale at the DeZion and Worthington galleries and Joy Craft and Design.
Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., artists and musicians will be present at the Kayenta Art Village in Ivins.
On Monday, Silver Reef Museum will be the site of many local cultural events. Book signings of “Legacy” will be available by Jodi McGregor and local history book authors Richard Kohler, Russell Estack, and more.
Monday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., next door to the museum, at the Cosmopolitan, Plein Air artist Mary Jabens, Jodi McGregor and Erric Wan-kier will join the Southern Utah Art Guild in a Plein Air Paint-out-Wet Paint, which will be for sale off their easels.
Resources
Arts to Zion: Website | Facebook
Related posts
- ‘Arts to Zion’ tour showcases art from within community; silent auction preview
- Arts to Zion tour; an imaginative, intimate showcase of talent– 2014
- Arts to Zion studio tour connects art across Washington County-2012
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