Over the years, the Salt Lake Art Center has consistently mounted thought-provoking, visually stirring exhibits. It's good to know some things never change.

Scott Fife's "Big Trouble: The Idaho Project" — in the Street Level gallery through Oct. 2 — and "Fresh Ink: Prints From Flatbed Press" — in the Main gallery through Sept. 25 — animate, gratify, disturb, intrigue and nourish both sight and spirit.

Fife's sculptures are typically constructed of archival cardboard, which is texturally marvelous, as well as other materials revealing his process — pencil marks, glue and screws. In "The Idaho Project," Fife has created busts of prominent individuals involved in a labor dispute and trial. The surface of each is so tantalizing you can't help but get in close to study every scratch, dent and cut.

As good as Fife's exhibit is, the "Fresh Ink" display down in the Main gallery is better. Here visitors will witness bewitching works in intaglio, lithography and relief printing.

Here are some that impress: Spencer Fidler's color intaglios "Confrontation I" and "Confrontation II"; John Alexander's color lithograph "Angry Heron"; Frank Tolbert's hand-colored woodcut "A New Orleans Fortune Teller"; and Bob Snyder's etchings and aquatints "Man" and "Woman."

One of the most visually stunning pieces in the exhibit is Linda Ridgway's "Vine Line Suite," composed of three soft ground etchings with relief roll that are 14 inches wide and 109 inches long. Every aspect of these three prints is elegant and soothing.

Sculptor Luiz Jiminez's 57- by 43-inch color soft-ground etching and aquatint, "Self Portrait," is both grotesque and beautiful — it's a must see.

And once again, Jim Edwards has hung the exhibition with a perfect eye for placement; it doubles the impact of every print.

These two shows are a must see.

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E-mail: gag@desnews.com