POSTED // Feb 3,2009 - Descending Valhalla Canyon in the Tetons in 1967, I ran into Yvon Chouinard, the world-class mountain climber. I asked Chouinard what he was up to. He pulled an Italian ice ax from his pack. n“I damned near died on an ice sheet a bit ago, and I put this ax on a forge and dropped the pick,” he said. He was heading up to the ice on the Grand Teton to see if this invention would hold bett...

POSTED // Jan 28,2009 - The Proposition 8 backlash boycott! The collapse of media outlets unable to send journalists! The collapse of boutique distributors for independent films! The collapse of individual bank accounts! Global warming! You name it, and it was being put forth as a reason why the 2009 Sundance Film Festival would be a more sedate affair than in years past. nIndeed, the vibe was different, though not radic...

POSTED // Jan 28,2009 - Master modern-dance choreographer Alwin Nikolais was always fond of saying, “When audiences come to the theater, they come to see theatrical magic—not dramatic or political problems, but magic.” nSo perhaps it comes as no surprise that, although he is best celebrated for his very modern and very abstract dance works geared toward adults, Nikolais began his eye-catching experiment...

POSTED // Jan 28,2009 - Many of us have a friend who is experienced at rock climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering, ski tours and canyoneering, and it may seem easy enough to just tag along and try to pick it up as you go. But there’s a very noticeable difference when you hire a professional: While your friend may know what he’s doing, a guide is trained and experienced to make sure you have a safe and enjoya...

POSTED // Jan 28,2009 - nFRIDAY 1.30nLord of the DancenWhether you’re a seasoned fan of Lord of the Dance or you’re being dragged there kicking and screaming by a very persistent significant other, you probably have a good idea of what to expect when the curtain rises. nLord of the Dance is now in its 11th year of touring, and though its creator Michael Flatley no longer tours with the show, he remains its p...

POSTED // Jan 21,2009 - A new yet familiar gallery space opens with a flourish this month featuring a local powerhouse. The owner of Campo Furniture on Highland Drive, Brian Seethaler, was losing his lease after 12 years. He decided to do something different with the 19,000-square-foot building for its final months after talking to 337 Project founder Adam Price, who introduced him to artist John Bell. Bell’s Size ...

POSTED // Jan 21,2009 - Decades after experiencing an awakening of his sexual identity, Daren Young realized the truth about his artistic identity. The results are showcased in an exhibit that he says is an “evocative, not provocative” attempt to stimulate dialogue about homosexuality. In contrast to some gay-themed art that uses overt sexuality or political statements, HOMO/Evocative is more intimate because...

POSTED // Jan 21,2009 - Invite friends and family to go camping in July, and they can’t wait to get out of work and hit the trails. Invite them in January and the drop-off in acceptances looks similar to the NASDAQ in recent months—even considering some of the amazing winter sights and experiences that are available in Utah. nAnd who can blame them? It’s cold in them thar hills, not to mention the poten...

POSTED // Jan 21,2009 - nTHURSDAY 1.22nRyan Brown @ Coleman StudiosnFor more than a century, mainstream artists and critics have rejected traditional art such as portraiture, landscape and still life. Good art was considered valid only if abstract, conceptual and progressive. One result was an abundance of sub-par, commercialized representational art. However, artists such as Ryan Brown—currently showing at the Col...

POSTED // Jan 14,2009 - nThe Yellow Leaf nCharles Morey loves artists and the moment of artistic inspiration—but maybe, just maybe, it’s time to move on. nOver the course of his tenure as Pioneer Theatre Company artistic director, Morey has seen several of his own original plays produced. And it’s clear that his preferred subject is the moment of the muse: his interpretation of The Three Musketeers with...