Brolly Arts marks decade with 'Voices'

When Brolly Arts was formed a decade ago, founder Amy McDonald Sanyer knew she was filling a void.

"I had done some research and wanted to create an organization that supported and enhanced independent artists," Sanyer said during an interview with the Deseret Morning News. "I wanted to give artists the chance to experiment and present their works."

Now, 10 years later, Brolly Arts has and continues to produce, support and present independent art in Utah.

In the beginning, Sanyer focused mostly on dance.

"That's what I knew," said Sanyer, a modern dancer. "But I looked around and realized that just doing dance would cut off other disciplines. And what Brolly Arts needed to be was all-embracing."

To celebrate a decade of art, Brolly Arts will present "Independent Voices," which Sanyer described as an "interactive and intimate presentation of dance, visual art, music, video, film and theatre."

The event will be at the Dumke Student Theatre in the Emma Eccles Jones Conservatory at Westminster College. Sanyer is looking forward to seeing how the audience reacts.

"The experience will begin the moment the audience walks through the door," explained Sanyer. "The audience will be led to different stations of artistic disciplines. There they will help create sculptures and soundscapes with our different artists.

"Then the audience will be led into the theater where we will present dance and theatre. And later on, they will see how they helped create some of the works that will be on display.

"It's a great way to show what Brolly Arts has done over the last 10 years."

Sanyer said she is grateful for the collaboration between Brolly Arts and Westminster College.

"The college has offered a class by assistant professor Doug Wright," said Sanyer. "The students learn the creative process by working and listening to each of the artists involved in the 'Independent Voices' production."

They include visual artists Michael Moonbird and Andy Hayes, photographer Rosalind Newmark, video and visual artist Anne Watson, composer Tristan Moore, sculptor Libby Davis, kite maker Greg Kono and choreographers Stephen Koester, Ellen Bromberg and Mary Johnston-Coursey and performance artist Ann Boyd.

"We are lucky to have the caliber of artists in this area," said Sanyer. "And we have our eye on the future."

The future, she said, will include more collaborations and outreach programs.

"We have been involved in many outreach activities," said Sanyer. "It's rewarding to work with children and see them grasp the concepts of art. I have seen so many kids grow artistically.