Random Acts of Art
Random Acts of Art bring creative solutions to social and community needs. Each project is spearheaded by a member of a statewide network of artists and arts administrators known as Change Leaders.
Greening the Arts - Earth Day Downtown
The Cache Valley Center for the Arts (CVCA) launched a season of Greening the Arts with a ScrapArtsMusic performance. Children turned trash into upcycled musical instruments, rehearsed during a junk jam with a local musician, and performed at the Gallery Walk. In April, CVCA held the first Earth Day celebration in downtown Logan. Over 450 people attended the four hour event which featured performances, demonstrations, and the unveiling of CVCA's first public sculpture.
Paint the Towers
South Ogden invited artists to propose transformative artwork to beautify two landmark million gallon water tanks. The call for entries yielded 28 proposals which were opened to public input and reviewed by a selection committee. The winner was announced at the city's 75th anniversary celebration. Funding has been secured to execute the design on the water towers.
Story Potluck
Storytellers and writers united in a common cause to support The Road Home, an organization that helps families cope with homelessness. A fundraiser community meal in Salt Lake City brought the aromas of the recipes and the voices of the authors together in a memorable evening of food and performance. A cookbook containing the stories is planned, with proceeds continuing to benefit the homeless.
Road Home Knitting Circle
Thursday nights at 6 p.m. women in the Women's Shelter learn the therapeutic arts of knitting and crochet with donated yarn and needles. The Knitting Circle participants collaborated with community fiber artists to participate in the graffiti knitting project during the Utah Arts Festival. This project is ongoing and yarn and needle donations are welcome.
Graffiti Knitting
Diverse groups, including children, adults, homeless individuals and business owners, united by a passion for fiber arts, staged "knit-ins" and created a temporary knitted public art installation in Washington Square Park during the Utah Arts Festival. The project went viral and gained national media attention. They even knitted a sweater for a Mini Cooper.
The No Bully Beat
In West Valley City young people explored solutions to bullying through discussion and improvisation with Djembe African drums. Plans are underway to create an expression of respect through a participatory public art installation.
Summerfest Recycled Art Project
Artists helped those attending the Summerfest Arts Faire create a large statue from cast-off items. Covered with paper mache and painted in bright colors, the sculpture was a popular attraction during the three day arts festival and continues to be on public display. A second, more durable sculpture was created from discarded metal pans, bells and tubes. People are encouraged to make music by hitting this sculpture with drum sticks. Other works were created from plastic shopping bags.
Smile on Your Brother
College students mentored six high school students at risk for non-graduation. Over the course of a year they engaged the students' interest in visual arts, music and film, interfaced with students in their school arts courses, and brought students to experience arts events at the Utah State University campus. All of the participants not only graduated from high school but enrolled in college.
Sanpete Youth Theatre Initiative
At-risk youth in Gunnison will engage in their communities and gain marketable skills by participating in conscious speaking workshops and training to work as historical interpreters.The Art of Healing
An exhibit will be displayed at the Kane County Hospital, to provide a respite for patients and their families, and introduce new audiences to art in a public space.