Painters, sculptors, photographers join in the annual Taylorsville Art Show

By Carl Fauver | [email protected]

A rooster fashioned out of silverware, primarily forks, earn the “Best of Show” award at this year’s annual Taylorsville Art Show, selected by a group of judges from among 240 pieces of art.

“This show gets bigger and better every year,” said Taylorsville Arts Council Chairman Howard Wilson. “And we can’t wait to see what it will become when we shift it to the new Performing Arts Center in 2021.”

When that move is made, the arts council plans to expand the show to an entire week. But for the next couple of years — as they did again this year — the council will make do with the space provided by the Taylorsville Senior Center. 

“We shifted the show from city hall in 2016 because there is more room here,” Wilson continued. “But still, this room is used by the seniors for lots of different activities. So, I know they’ll be happy, like us, when we can shift to the new arts center after it’s built.” 

For the first time ever, this year’s entrants all registered online for the art show, which organizers say simplified the process. 

Taylorsville Art Show contestants are grouped into five categories: age 8 and younger, 9–14, adult (15–59), senior and professional. Each of those groups compete in three different categories: fine art, needlework/home arts and mixed/creative arts. In other words, nearly any type of artwork is welcome at the show.

All the various categories also mean a couple of hundred first- and second-place ribbons go home with artists every year.

Doyle Atwood, for instance, has earned one ribbon or another every time he’s entered one of his wood burnt art pieces. This year, his depiction of an antique train claimed the top prize.

“It’s fun; working on my art provides a kind of sanctuary,” the 77-year-old Atwood said, as his wife, Kathleen, helped him carry his pieces out of the senior center.

Near the other end of the age spectrum, Liam Huff earned the children’s Mayor’s Choice award for his painting titled “Masked Bandit.” Clark Ostergaard won the adult Mayor’s Choice award while Michaela Hilse won the People’s Choice honor.  The acrylic painting “Wild Dream” earned Sarah Bjork the Taylorsville Arts Council award.

Taylorsville High School sophomore Laura Parra has earned ribbons two years in a row: a first place working in charcoal last year and a second place — with an acrylic paint piece — this year.

“It’s fun; I like seeing other people’s point of view through their art,” Parra said. “A lot of people enjoy thinking outside the box.”

Baylee Goodman, 8, also went home with a couple of ribbons, including one for a colored pencil piece entitled “Surf’s Up” that took her only one day to complete.

“I think she has a real talent for art,” her proud mother, Miranda Goodman, added. “I think she’s found her niche.”

It’s also not uncommon for parents and kids to enter the Taylorsville Art Show together. But in the case of Rachelle and Stefani Anderson, only one of them took a ribbon home.

Rachelle, 11, claimed a red, second-place ribbon for her oil paint piece, “Jellyfish.” But her mother, who’s painted for 25 years and taught art for the last four years, came up short.

“I’m so proud of her; she’s won a ribbon every year but one, since she began entering this show at age 5,” Stefani said of her daughter.  Then she added with a smile, “As for me (not winning a ribbon), let’s just say it’s harder in the adult category.”

“(Painting) is kind of relaxing and fun to do,” Rachelle said. “I like thinking about what I’m going to paint next almost as much as doing it.”

Ribbons and bragging rights are all the winners earn at the Taylorsville Art Show. But organizers say, that has proven to be enough to keep people coming back.

The Taylorsville Arts Council is funded primarily through grants from Salt Lake County’s Zoo, Arts and Parks (ZAP) tax, along with a small annual stipend from the city.

“We apply for $15,000 in ZAP funding each year but are never sure how much of that we will get,” Wilson said. “The city has been good about budgeting $1,000 each year for the arts council." 

For more about the variety of artistic activities the Taylorsville Arts Council supports, visit www.taylorsvilleut.gov or www.facebook.com/TaylorsvilleCity.