Visual-arts show to feature some Utah landmarks

Utah's array of architectural, organic and unconventional art caught the attention of cable-television producers who decided the Beehive state was worth spotlighting on the visual-arts channel Gallery HD.

Driving cross-country from Miami to Anchorage in a colorfully painted, Jackson Pollock-inspired RV, the crew of the offbeat program "Artland: USA" is touring some of the nation's most visually interesting sites for the show's second season, said executive producer Tamar Hacker.

"I really wanted a series that wouldn't be focused on New York or Los Angeles — which is really easy to do when your show is about art," Hacker said.

Featuring the Salt Lake Main Library, the Tabernacle at Temple Square, the 337 Project and the Spiral Jetty and Sun Tunnels in rural Utah, the crew toured the state for two days in June, talking with experts and designers at each of the locations.

One of "Artland: USA's" hosts, Toby Amies, is a far cry from the stereotype of a stuffy art critic in a suit and tie, who might not make art "as fun as art should be," Hacker said. A former MTV veejay in Britain, Amies brings his enthusiasm for art along with a creative (some might say eccentric) style to the show.

Two British crews follow Amies and fellow host Mame McCutchin as they separately film from different locations to keep up with the show's demanding schedule.

On site at the 337 Project on June 12, Amies said he was very impressed with the eclectic expression of art and thought it was "a testament to what you can do when you give artists free reign."

Located at 337 S. 400 East, the building — which is slated for demolition later this month — is covered with the work of more than 150 local artists. Painters, sculptors and everyone in between converged upon the space in March when owner Adam Price saw the 42-room building as a blank canvas rather than just a structure to be torn down and replaced.

Hacker said the space was chosen by the production team as a stop because the show hadn't featured anything that involved so many contributors and was such a good example of "art springing up unexpectedly." The building's decided fate also played into its selection as the show will serve to permanently capture the short-lived display in high definition.

"It's so ephemeral," she said. "It feels really great that we're going to be there to film this before it goes away."