Faces of Salt Lake County book and portrait reception 

• Bry Cox

The 2020 census showed Utah as the fastest-growing state in the United States, but if you did deeper into those demographic trends, it also shows an evolution in what we might think of when we picture a "Utahn." While we might be inclined to still think of this as a homogenous place, the immigrant population in particular grew by more than 100,000 between 2000 and 2019. And when it comes to Salt Lake County, that growing diversity is even more pronounced.

As a way of bringing that diversity to the forefront, Salt Lake County has put its energy behind Faces of Salt Lake County, a project that invited a broad range of individuals—ranging from brand-new immigrants to sixth-generation residents of the state—to share their experiences in interviews conducted by local youth groups, including the Salt Lake County Youth Government and Salt Lake County 4-H Teen Council. The book's interview subjects were then captured in striking black-and-white portraits by award-winning local photographer Bry Cox. The Thomas S. Monson Center (411 E. South Temple) will host a reception, featuring an exhibition of the photographs and many of the interview subjects, on Friday, April 19 from 6 – 9 p.m. The book will be available for free to attendees, though donations are encouraged.

Tatyana Kovalova—an immigrant with ancestry in Moldova and Ukraine—is among those profiled in Faces of Salt Lake County. When approached through a friend about the possibility of participating, she didn't hesitate. "I thought it was a wonderful project to get to know those from different countries," Kovalova says. "I think projects like this could help with more inclusivity, with helping people, instead of being judgmental when they hear an accent, or when they see a different type of clothing or color of skin, they'd instead be curious. If you get to know a person, when you get to know their story, you start to like them."

Kovalova herself has served an LDS mission, and she acknowledges that the state is somewhat unique in that respect in terms of people who have had direct experiences of other cultures. Yet as someone who has lived in other states—including Vermont, Colorado and New York—she still believes that a project like this is beneficial. "I feel that Utah, for lack of a better word, is still a big bubble," she says. "There still could be more to learn about others, about other experiences. There is more work to do, for sure."

For photographer Bry Cox, his part of contributing to that work involved capturing the images that accompanied the subjects' stories. While he notes that he did not have access to the text before taking his photographs, his own creative approach involves an openness to getting to know his subjects.

"Everybody comes in as a stranger," Cox says. "I start with, 'Tell me about yourself,' and they share some aspect of themselves, and they light up. I like to have conversations with people as I'm photographing them. ... These were stories of gratitude, and they love living here."

Cox also notes that, as much as the interview subjects were able to tell their stories through their words, his goal is also to tell a story through the portraits. "You have all these unique people, unique stories, unique faces, and how do you present it so it feels like you know a person?" he says.

"I sculpt people with light to capture their emotion—powerful, split-second moments frozen in time to tell the story of an individual," he adds. "In some people I see strength, others excitement, and in others apprehension. But overall, I experienced their gratitude for the opportunity to live here in Utah."

For Tatyana Kovalova, the overall result of Faces of Salt Lake County is something she wants to contribute to greater compassion in the face of an ever-diversifying population. "I really hope that having this project and this book available will bring people together and make them more [accepting], more loving and kind to others," she says, "because we need that right now."