Back
to the Gallery Stroll we go as we hit late June, and the art scene
picks back up speed again for many reason across the state.
This month we head back to Kayo
Gallery
to check out a shared show.
--- Jason Metcalf
took over the left side of the room with his view of rebuilding and
Hell. Meanwhile, Cara Despain took over the right side
showcasing her unique paintings of the nature around us. I got
a chance to interview both while taking pictures of the show.
Jason
Metcalf
http://www.jasonmetcalf.com/
Gavin:
Hey Jason. First thing, tell us a little about yourself.
Jason:
I was born in SLC, and have always loved art. I attended Brighton
High School, and then attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts
in Boston, MA. I then transferred to BYU, where I am continuing my
candidacy for a BFA degree. I am married to Denise Metcalf, and have
a little Italian greyhound, Sadie, and a cat, Bella.
Gavin:
How did you get into doing art for a living?
Jason:
It’s not quite a living yet! It’s more of an expense or an
investment I guess. I am not sure how I got into showing my art, I am
just always involved and don't turn down opportunities, so it seems I
always have at least two shows to work on at once.
Gavin:
For those unfamiliar with your work, what are you most known for in
the local art community?
Jason: I am not sure I am that
well known, maybe I am underestimating myself, I don't know. I have
shown at several spaces in SLC, the most recent being the Rio Gallery
where I presented a collaborative project with Conrad
Nebeker-Audioptic Art. It was a series of sound paintings, sculpture,
and video that was a result of research conducted at BYU for which we
received a Laycock Foundation Grant.
Gavin: You
attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston for a couple
years, but then came to BYU in 2005. Why the change?
Jason:
I am still not exactly sure. I do know that some really good things
have happened though. I met my wife, have had great exhibitions,
including the opportunity to create work in New York and Miami, and
am now involved in the recently founded Sego Art Center. I don't
regret my stay in Boston, it was marvelous, and I learned so much in
a short time about contemporary art and different things I had never
before dreamed of.
Gavin: What did you think of
the art programs they have at BYU? And how do they compare to others
from around the country?
Jason: They have really good
programs. In many ways it seems they are up to speed with the best of
the best, but in other ways they could use some help. There are some
really progressive professors however, that are making big changes
for the better. The school allows students to explore and do pretty
much whatever they want (as far as media and theory- not always
imagery are concerned), but doesn't always do the best job of
facilitating such exploration. The same goes for exposure to
contemporary art and current practices. All this is changing however.
Their visiting artist program however is the very best. They have had
all sorts of amazing folk- Cory Arcangel, Jerry Saltz, Barry Maggee,
Laura Hoptman, Judy Pfaff... so many others.
Gavin:
I found it interesting that you don't limit yourself to just
paintings; you do 3D art, performance, and sound art as well. What
was the inspiration to do all that?
Jason: I just think
about a concept or form that I want to create and think to myself
"what is the very best way that this will come out?", and
then I execute. Sometimes ideas manifest themselves the best in
performance, but sometimes in drawing, painting, or even sound. The
difficult part about all this is to create a consistent body of work
that transcends media and even sometimes aesthetic boundaries. That
is what I am really trying to do now-to create a body of work that is
conceptually consistent, even if not necessarily visually
cohesive.
Gavin: What do you think about Gallery
Stroll, both good and bad, and how it's evolved over the
years?
Jason: I think it’s a really great program. To
be honest, I haven't been since High School, as I haven't lived in
the valley since that time. We have a stroll in Provo as well, which
is beginning to have a really good turnout, although it is not as
diverse in its demographics. I think it is great in that art lovers
can expect new art every month- and enough to see to fill up an
entire evening of viewing. However I think the stroll(s) is lacking
in having serious venues that really investigate current global
trends in contemporary art. There are other spaces that do this
around the state- the Central Utah Art Center, in my opinion, do the
best job at bringing in well recognized outside artists in order to
educate their local community about the state of Visual Art on a
national and international level. I think we at Sego are beginning to
bring the same dialogue to Provo as we plan some really great
upcoming shows. The Salt Lake Art Center, The BYU MOA, and the UMFA
have all gained new staff/ directors which are some of the brightest
minds in the entire state concerning contemporary art. I think Utah
is on the cusp of greater recognition nationally and even
internationally.
Gavin: Is there anything you
feel could be done to make the local art scene better?
Jason:
I think an openness in mind on everyone’s behalf, whether you
consider yourself a traditionalist or a postmodernist or whatever,
would do the Wasatch front a lot of good. We need to all keep our
minds open about what we think is good or acceptable art, and what we
should value as a society or culture. Individuals should always be
engaged in expanding their horizon of appreciation and understanding
by questioning and learning about work they might not fully
comprehend. Lastly, if we all do the most we can to better the arts
in our own individual communities, much more would be
happening.
Gavin: Tell us about the display
you're showing at Kayo Gallery.
Jason: It’s the most
recent art from a body of work I have been working on for about the
past two years. It includes 12 paintings or so, a light
sculpture/painting, and a performance which was done at the opening
reception. The work has to do with a personal investigation of the
symbols and values of our local visual culture, but also includes art
historical, historical, geological, mythical, theological,
linguistic, and aesthetic references. I am happy with the show as I
feel it is finally a path I can continue on for a duration of time,
the concepts are flexible and broad enough that a multiplicity of
media can be applied and experimented with.
Gavin:
Where did the idea come from to do a shared show with Cara?
Jason:
Kenny Riches, Kayo's last owner and founder, set it all up. Oddly
enough, Cara and I attended the same art classes together at Brighton
High Back in 2001. It has been great to see her again, and
collaborate on this show.
Gavin: What can we
expect from you the rest of the year?
Jason: I will be
a part of the Proving Ground performance art festival at the Rose
Wagner Black Box Theater in September. I haven't participated before,
but I will be doing a short stage performance several times over a
few days. I am pretty excited, and have some interesting ideas I am
looking forward to executing. It will be a new experience performing
on stage, as opposed to in a gallery, art fair, or street
format.
Gavin: Anything you'd like to
plug?
Jason: All the great artists in Provo and Utah
Valley that might be underrepresented or undervalued. The
Sego Arts Center,
although I am probably being really biased, I think we are doing some
really great things. We have great shows which circulate monthly. Our
openings are always on the first Friday of the month, as opposed to
Salt Lake's third Friday, so people can enjoy attending opening
receptions in both cities. We keep our website up to date, so
information about current shows can always be found there.
Cara
Despain