Grandma Phyllis is who I often turned to concerning the big questions that commonly trouble a teenager.  She seemed to know just what to say, as if she had some deep well of insight and wisdom. Frequently, her simple answers soothed my youthful anxieties. Her grasp of patterns and rhythms of life made deep impressions as she talked with me. Memories of the conversations then, and how I recall and perceive them now are part of this exhibition.

 

A Mandala, not only as an object, but as a tool of meditation and insight teaches as we ponder.  The classic bentwood rocker seems to be a appropriate token of her comforting and patient counsel. A symbol of those who commit the time to reflect, learn and to wonder. I miss her counsel and wisdom as I negotiate the concerns and worries I have now as an adult.

 

Many of these works reference my observations of those grandma-therapy sessions. Others are the insights, and time-altered remembrances of others now gone.

 

Four-poster Rope Bridge is the now ‘adult’ version of the once ‘child-sized’ place of reflection & repose. A place where great hopes & dreams, along with deep fears & worries spun in my head then, and a few of the same, but many others, still do now.

 

Adam Thomas’ mixed media sculptures are a thought-provoking mix of familiar objects that have been assembled or modified. The recognition of these OBJECTS provides accessibility and openness to engage with these works. Ladders and Chairs take on metaphor & meaning, speak of people & place, elevation, and point of view.

 

Thomas’ works are often life-sized or larger allowing viewers to utilize their own experiences with these recognizable objects which then blend with the art intent.

 

Adam Thomas received his MFA from The University of Texas at Austin following a variety of jobs and life experiences and many years removed from his BFA from the University of Utah.

 

Thomas currently operates oddduckstudio, where he builds sets and props for the local film industry. This working studio provides an experimental space for rotating art stroll events in Utah County during the first Friday of every month. He also owns and operates Moonglass Gallery, a fine art gallery in Orem.

 

"Past, Present and Future" encapsulates the history and enduring contributions of Asian immigrants to Utah's cultural fabric. This exhibition gives permanence in porcelain to the erased and forgotten stories of struggle, resilience, and perseverance by Asian communities. Works pay homage to pivotal Asian-American narratives across Utah's past and present - the Chinese railroad workers of the Golden Spike, Salt Lake City's lost Chinatown of Plum Alley, the Jade Cafe restaurant, and the Utah Asian Festival. These porcelain sculptures resurrect voices, spirits and legacies that have been unjustly erased and glossed over. United through this eternal medium, the pieces invite reflection on Utah's collective past, engage the dynamic present realities of Asian diasporas, and inspire a future that celebrates the invaluable threads woven into our state's identity. The exhibition gives material form to the struggles and triumphs that cannot be erased.

 

Shiya is a Taishanese multi-disciplinary artist based in Salt Lake City who explores her cultural identity through pottery and digital illustration. Immigrating to Utah from China with her family in the early 2000s, Shiya’s work draws on traditional Chinese and Asian artistic techniques to connect with her heritage.

 

Her current body of ceramic sculpture work captures cherished moments and tangible memories from her childhood as a Chinese immigrant, along with shared staples of the Asian immigrant experience, such as her parent's Chinese restaurant dishes and favorite childhood snacks. By recreating fleeting scenes and nostalgic objects that once made her feel at home, Shiya aims to preserve her cultural traditions and share the stories of her family and community.