vagary, noun: an unpredictable instance; a wandering journey; a whimsical, wild or unusual idea, desire or action.

In this exhibition, artists KOSA, Loretta Heenan, Jacqueline Marquez, kenosys, Cheyenne Paul and Lauren “Sody” Wadsworth explore the vastness of artistic expression through sectioning experiences of different styles and media. Through the creation of different artistic ‘biomes,’ the artists invite viewers to take their own wandering journey through the exhibition, immersing themselves in each as they go along. With themes that range from truth, to fiction, to traumatic fears and warm welcomes, "Vagary" seeks to remind us that even works that seem fundamentally different share common purpose: to be sought out and viewed by travelers who feel it speaks to them.

Join the artists for the opening reception on Tuesday, November 10 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. RSVP for timed entry required.

Gallery occupancy is limited. Face coverings and social distancing required. For additional information, please contact galleries@asu.edu.

Open Desert brings together Arizona State University students, professors, and alumni whose art practice mirrors the desert landscapes they call home. The exhibition aims to bring awareness to the beauty and fragility of arid environments in order to encourage their protection. The artists have worked in collaboration with the Desert Humanities Initiative: a collection of desert enthusiasts who believe in the power of collaboration and discussion. https://ihr.asu.edu/desert-humanities

“Deserts are demanding and pose large questions to us—questions that invite large ecological solutions. A domain of extremes, the desert challenges its inhabitants to imagine what a good life consists of; how to practice a sustainable and equitable mode of living that life, paying careful attention to the long history of human cultures attempting just that; and the relation of art and story to the creation of both.”
- Desert Humanities Mission Statement

The exhibition features works by Parker Barfield, Meghan Johnson, KOSA, Anthony Pessler, Luke Watson, and Mary Williams. The exhibition, along with the artist discussions, can be experienced at https://open-desert.squarespace.com/.

Myth in Memory considers and explores mythology in the experience of the everyman—storytelling, archetypes appearing in the everyday, oral histories, family cultures, reinterpretations and modernizations of ancient myth, ritual, and the truths that persist through fictions. Joseph Campbell, in “The Power of Myth,” affirmed the mystical, cosmological, sociological, and pedagogical functions of myth asserting that its role is to illuminate “how to live a human lifetime under any circumstances.”

Artists participating in the exhibition include M. Barnewitz, Sunnie Bybee, Chris Dunsmore, Stefanie Dykes, Dale Enggass, Grant Fuhst, Megan Knobloch Geilman, Josh Graham, KOSA, Jamie Kyle, Mitchell Lee, Michelle Macfarlane, Nick Pedersen, Serena Perrone, Nora Price, Wren Ross, Sarah Stoddard, Sarah Morton Taggert, Claire Taylor, Becky Thomas, Mary Toscano, and Amber Carr Wallace.

The exhibition will be available to view by appointment, Aug 7 – Sep 18. A group of up to five people can view it at a time, and the groups are intended to be "individual household groups," to lessen the impact on the health of the Finch Lane Gallery staff. You can make an appointment to view the exhibition here http://saltlakearts.org/program/current-exhibitions/

The Halophyte Collective and Salt Lake Arts Council also hosted a panel discussion of the Myth in Memory exhibition on Thursday, August 20, at 7pm. Panelists included Art Historian Hikmet Sidney Loe; Nancy Rivera, Visual Arts Coordinator, Utah Division of Arts & Museums; and Jorge Rojas, Director of Learning and Engagement, Utah Museum of Fine Art. You can view the full discussion here https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=155&v=ngOh13QYSrM&feature=emb_logo