Moab Happenings Archive
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GALLERY HAPPENINGS July 2008

Enjoy the Refreshing Experience of Original Art

We feature local, regional, and international artists. You will find here sculptures, beautiful pottery, glass, wood and metal works, most unique photographs and thought- provoking paintings, azurite crystal roses, hand spun wool & silk, light & color.

Moab is a small town located in the red rock desert of southwestern Utah. It is world - famous for its spectacular natural beauty and is one of the greatest places for hiking, biking, river trips and jeeping adventures. Nevertheless, in this beautiful surrounding there are many talented and devoted artists who live and work here, quietly interpreting the natural beauty around them into stunning works of contemporary art.

So, we are searching for the hidden and known talents in our region and beyond, so you, our visitors, will enjoy the refreshing experience of original art.

This month we would like to talk about 2 artists whom we are delighted to represent in our gallery.

Doug Malmstrom
Doug MalmstromDoug Malmstrom was educated in Academy Of Art In San Francisco and studied Commercial Art in Salt Lake City. He worked as a Commercial Artist as an Illustrator, Graphic Designer in Utah and after 12 years, he switched his artistic endeavors to painting, mixed media, painted ceramics, woodworking, and sculpting. “Art is a direct link between ourselves and our existence. The creativity of art in all its forms fulfills a wide spectrum of purpose and is an important element in our lives. It also defines us as a civilization. It is a measurement of sensitivity to our world. Our creative dreams shape our future and makes a statement about our society. I create art to convey a feeling, mood and/or a message and hopefully create an enjoyable environment. Do we need art? Why do we need art? Would we be better off without it? Does it matter? It doesn’t house us or clothe us or feed us. It makes our homes a better place to be. It makes us look better when we wear it. It feeds us spiritually and mentally. It reminds the soul, shocks the senses, soothes and nurtures the spirit. It stirs the mind, entertains and dazzles the eye. It pricks our imagination, strengthens our position, blocks the mundane and keeps us company. It is truly the “unnecessary necessity”.”

“Eclectic Neo-Primitive” -various doctrines, methods and styles in a new and different form or manner closely approximating an early ancestral work marked by directness and naiveté. I like to evoke an organic feeling, mystical and real, symbolic and interpretive, recognizable but not necessarily obvious. Like a lost secret we have always known. Summoning up elements from a past subconscious to a new realization. A playfully reverent truth. It is my hope that the viewer sees this in my work and it speaks to them as well.”

Kevin Frazier
Kevin FrazierKevin Frazier was born in an artistic family. His mother was a painter. He experimented with various media from an early age. By the end of high school he already started taking pottery classes. Ever since he has been working with clay.

Kevin received his MFA and secondary teaching certificate from the University of Utah. Shortly after graduating he began teaching at Salt Lake Community College. Then he had the opportunity to set up and run the craft center at the college. He began teaching pottery,stained glass, lapidary, small metals and anything else someone wanted to try.

Most of his current work is raku. Raku is a low temperature firing technique that requires the pieces to be taken out of the kiln while they are still very hot. In most cases the glaze on the piece is still fluid. The fast rate of cooling, from the hot kiln to air temperature, causes the glaze to crackle. Post reduction, placing the hot piece in a combustible material, fills these crackles and any unglazed surface with black carbon.

Although he uses a stoneware clay body for his work, it never reaches vitrification temperature. This means that raku is inherently more fragile than stoneware and should be handled with care.

“The majority of my work is non functional. Its purpose is to capture the imagination, to be both interesting and beautiful. I hope you enjoy the end result as much as I have enjoyed the process.”

As long as you are here in the gallery, check out the new and unique jewelry by Olga Martinova. Olga works at her jeweler’s bench and greets her customers, who appreciates the opportunity to meet the artist and watch her work. She makes many custom jewelry upon request; you can watch her make your piece while you wait.

She also spins wool and silk. Often you can see her spinning when you walk into the gallery. She will often give demonstrations to customers who have never seen this ancient art practiced in real life.

If you’re passing through Moab, we’d like to invite you to take a few moments to stop in and enjoy the refreshing experience of original art!

We are located in the Eddie McStiff’s Plaza, “when you see the big yellow cat above its rocky lair, you know you’re in the right place!”

Cat’s Lair Collection
59 South Main St.
Moab, UT 84532
(435) 259-2458
www.catslaircollection.com

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