'Pastel in Provo,' sidewalk art added to gallery lineup

PROVO — Three pastel artists will display works at the Terra Nova Gallery, 41 W. 300 North, while gallery owner David Hawkinson plans a sidewalk chalk art festival with invited artists and public participation.

The sidewalk art will be created and displayed Friday, July 6, between noon and 9 p.m. Most of it should be completed before the monthly gallery stroll, sponsored by the Provo Downtown Business Alliance, takes place between 6-9 p.m. Concrete squares outside the gallery will be divided up for local artists and the public to create the art.

"We are hoping this will be a fun family activity and something a bit different for the gallery stroll," said Hawkinson.

Invited artists include painter Todd Orchard, illustrator Guy Francis, ceramist Melanie McGee, Timpview High School teacher Joanne Smith, illustrator Jay Kirk Richards, portrait artist Donna Corno and artists Sunnie Bybee and Natasha Harral.

The "Pastel in Provo" exhibit runs through July 27 at the gallery, featuring art by Andres Bravo of Provo, Anne Weber of Springville and Cindi Smith of Salt Lake City.

A pastel artist for 40 years, Weber eschews calling her pastels chalk because that denotes a children's media that is temporary, she said. Pastels instead are dry pigment rolled into sticks after they are mixed with a binder. Because they are dry Weber has no drying time for her work.

She likes pastels for their quickness and permanent, bright colors.

"I'm able to be very spontaneous," she said. "If I see a rainbow or a sunset I can pick them up and go right to work. There's no preparation."

She works on a rough paper (pastels won't cling to smooth paper) to create her art. Usually a piece takes just a few hours, although more detailed pieces with figures in them could take days.

"I happen to be a fast worker," Weber said.

Weber has exhibited at the gallery many times before, Hawkinson said. She recommended the other two artists for the pastel exhibit.

Other gallery stroll exhibitors are:

• Anderson Gallery at Provo City Library, 550 N. University Ave., "Historic Homes" by Todd Orchard.

• Coleman Studios, 117 N. University Ave., "Freedom Festival Fine Art Exhibit."

• Utah County Gallery, 151 S. University Ave., "2007 Freedom Festival Children's Art Show."

• Freedom Gallery, 230 W. Center, featuring the art of Gary Kapp with the work of 30 other artists also on display.

• Gallery OneTen & the Art Seminary, 110 S. 300 West. Main gallery: Darren Breen. Front gallery: Greg Caldwell.

• Storefront Galleries; 250 W. Center, 273 W. Center, and 48 N. 300 West, art by Amy Robinson, Bepe Kafka, Rochelle Wise, Jen Harmon Allen, Rebecca Cooper, Ruel Brown, and Ryan Neely.

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E-mail: rodger@desnews.com