Press

Today marks the last day of CAMERA VIVANT.  We’re really happy with the outcome of the exhibition, and are diligently working toward a publication.  Glen Warchol with the Salt Lake Tribune wrote an article all about the Central Utah Art Center yesterday.  We wanted to share an excerpt specifically related to our show:

CUAC’s most recent exhibition, “Camera Vivant,” which ended this week, is an example of its commitment to exposing Utah patrons to cutting-edge contemporary art. The show, curated by the New York City-based AD Projects, includes work by Kuba Bakowski, Allison Berkoy and Julian Opie.

A group of video works are sequestered behind black curtains on the upper floor of the former LDS rolling mill that serves as CUAC’s main gallery. The videos by Narcisister and Bec Stupak and Jack Smith include nudity, screened from the rest of the exhibit with a posted warning about “explicit content.”

Bateman and Latimer acknowledge “Camera Vivant” is a step beyond anything seen before in Ephraim — or even for most urban Utah exhibits, for that matter. “It was a bold move and the show is incredibly strong,” Latimer says. “Typically speaking, you would expect there might be problems; you never know what is going to happen.

CUAC works to maintain a close relationship with Ephraim’s city council and mayor. “I explained to them that this work is here and there might be some response,” Latimer says. “They agreed with our decisions and how we handled it.”

Bateman says the community supports CUAC and the center’s efforts to challenge viewers. “Those pieces are among the most relevant work to ever be shown in the state. There is no question about their artistic value.”

Lambson, of BYU’s MOA, labels the show “fantastic.” “I’d be curious to see how people are reacting to the dicier art works,” he says. “Museums and galleries have an obligation to serving their audience. But they also have an obligation to teach and expose people to everything.”

Latimer is confident CUAC’s influence will grow. “Everything is moving in the right direction. Our funding is going up and our national reputation is rising. Our goal is that CUAC becomes a voice and destination for contemporary art.”

In that direction, Bateman hopes to expand the residency program to expose more artists to Utah — and Utah to ever-higher doses of contemporary art. “Critical mass has finally happened.”

We just read an article from Salt Lake City Weekly and wanted to share what they had to say about CAMERA VIVANT.  The original was originally posted yesterday, February 23rd, and I’m copying the text in full below.  There’s still one week to see what they consider “one of the more challenging works in a Utah institution. Ever.”

CAMERA VIVANT

Curated by AD Projects (a NYC-based independent collective of curators), and presented by the Central Utah Art Center, this group show is one of the more challenging works in a Utah institution. Ever.

That mostly has to do with the fact that showing “explicit” art i.e. works with nudity—especially where video, photography or performance is concerned—is risky for most institutions. That the ice is being broken not in our state’s capital, but in Ephraim, is pretty amazing.

The exhibition, aiming to reveal a distinction between using a camera as a documentation device and using it to shape a performative act, highlights eight contemporary artists working in new media. Yes, there are two videos that contain nudity—they’re tastefully arranged so that viewers are warned and can choose to watch—and address gender, narcissism and the medium of film in an adult way. And they are important. But the rest of the show is also interesting and thoughtfully composed. Worth the risk, worth the trip.

Camera Vivant @ Central Utah Art Center, 86 N. Main, Ephraim, 801-214-8278, Feb. 11-March 4.CUArtCenter.org