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Three Artists Reflect on Their Work, President's Art Show

Grant Fuhst "The Touch," 2015, Acrylic on panel, 18 x 24 x 1 1/2 inches, Permanent Collection
Location: Taylorsville Redwood, Markosian Library, Basement


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With the Salt Lake Community College President’s Art Show fast approaching, Collection Technician James Walton spoke with three artists whose works were exhibited at the annual exhibition and subsequently purchased by the college for its permanent art collection.

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    If you didn’t know better, you might think that Grant Fuhst’s painting “The Touch” was created during quarantine. The Salt Lake based mixed media artist creates art in a wide variety of forms, including painting, sculpture, comic books, album covers, film, graphic design, illustration and even concept art for video games. 


Purchased at the 2015 President’s Art Show, this seemingly prophetic acrylic on panel is part of a series Fuhst (pronounced “Foost”) was developing in 2015 that deals with themes of spirituality. “It's about trying to connect to others on levels other than social and physical," says Fuhst. "So, I guess it does reverberate now when we are being forcibly disconnected physically from each other.”


Looking back on his experience with The President’s Art Show over the years, Fuhst explains “(2015) was my first time showing there, so to have the piece purchased was a real thrill. I love the President's show and have shown almost every year since.”


This year’s entry is sure to capture the interest of viewers. Fuhst’s sculpture “Ulthar” resembles a sort of shrine dedicated to his love of cats with quotes from some of his favorite feline themed literature: “The Cats of Ulhar” by the father of cosmic horror H.P. Lovecraft and “The Price” by comic book legend and author Neil Gaiman. 


Grant Fuhst, "Ulthar," 2019, mixed media


Currently, Fuhst is building and photographing a series of surreal black and white dioramas and continuing his series of mixed media pieces that utilize found objects. He has also been drawing, which he describes as “very rewarding.”


Grant Fuhst, "Diarama #1," 2020, photograph


    The Salt Lake based sculpture and installation artist Madison Donnelly expertly subverts expectations by mixing and matching disparate materials to make everyday objects seem alien and compel the viewer to wonder, “Why is this so weird for me?”


In 2015, “Wig and Stand” was juried in and subsequently purchased from the President’s Art Show by the Art Committee.     


Madison Donnelly, "Wig and Stand," 2014, Basswood, tung oil, 12 x 11 inches, SLCC Permanent Collection


“’Wig and Stand’ was really the first sculpture I completed and the first artwork I sold,” the artist explains, “so this piece is special to me and fun to revisit as I'm preparing to move for my Sculpture MFA (Yale University) next fall.  The sculpture comes apart in two pieces. The wig was carved by hand out of a large block of basswood, the head-shape and stand holding it were both turned individually on a lathe, then attached.” 


"I felt compelled to make 'Wig & Stand' before I really even knew what I made art about, so it’s interesting that now it fits into my body of work so naturally," Donnelly continues. "This piece examines the discomfort that arises when a familiar object refuses to perform in an expected way. Its ‘wrongness’ or uncanniness is defined by its material (wood) and its inutility. My sculptures are uncanny and withhold the function their forms suggest they might deliver.”


Madison Donnelly, "Bath House," 2019, Ceramic tile, tile grout, wood, bubble wrap, upholstery buttons, and pool drain. Installation view of “Bath House” exhibition, Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, Salt Lake City, UT, 2019.


    David LeCheminant worked in glass for a decade before choosing wood as his preferred medium. He uses the natural, imperfect material to meticulously build handmade objects. Each form is a marvel of hidden nails and intricately arranged pieces—an analogue totem in defiance of an increasingly digital world. 


David LeCheminant, "Altocumulus," 2018, Wood, paint, stain, 29 x 51 x 7 inches, Permanent Collection, Location: Taylorsville Redwood, Student Center, 2 Floor


Purchased at the 2018 President’s Art Show, ‘Altocumulus’ is part of LeChemiant’s series of sculptures titled ‘thin blue veil.’  The artist created this group of nine works to point to the majesty of our sky, which supports life for all of us. "The title ‘Altocumulus’ refers to a cloud type that is both beautiful and one that can morph into different subtypes and predict stormy weather," says LeChemiant. "Altocumulus clouds are observed by aviators as ‘warning clouds.’ In short: they are beautiful — the quintessential cloud — and they carry other messages which seems appropriate for this time.”


LeCheminant started building this sculptural assemblage at the beginning of the current administration as he watched the dismantling of many regulations that protect air and water from industrial polluters. “We live in a city with a profound air quality problem, especially in the winter," he says. "The detrimental effect of particulate matter and other pollutants and their effects on everyone — especially children and seniors — is well documented and yet, not only can we not seem to address those issues in this state, our leaders evidently don’t care enough to even try.”

 

This year, LeCheminant submitted two works—both were selected for the exhibition and continue along subterranean political themes couched in thoughts about culture and civilization. The former, “Second Empire,” grapples with questions surrounding the fate of America. 


David LeCheminant, "Second Empire," 2018, wood, paint, stain, 36 x 26 x 3 inches


“Everyman” is from a body of work titled “Icons,” in which the artist pays tribute to people who made a profound impact on his life. “The ‘everyman character’ in story telling is the modest, “regular” guy — or gal — who is often the protagonist — the guy we want to win," says LeCheminant. "This is my attempt at honoring all of us — ‘regular folks’ who are doing our best to make our life meaningful, to contribute and to live a good life.”


David LeCheminant, "Every Man," 2019, wood, paint, stain, 23 x 52 x 11 inches


Reflecting on the President’s Art Show, LeCheminant offers high praise. “The SLCC President’s show is a gift to artists — and the community," he says. "The exhibition, including opening, is wonderfully executed and managed and all artists I know are honored to be selected. I always visit a couple times after opening night to take in the show and am always impressed by the quality and diversity of work.” 


Follow Grant Fuhst on Instagram: @artbyfuhst


Visit the artists at their websites:


www.davidlecheminant.com


http://www.madisondonnelly.com


The President’s Art Show is an annual, juried show featuring Utah artists of all levels. The show annually awards $5,000 in prizes.  


Exhibiting November 5-18, 2020. 


COVID-19 message:

Individuals hoping to view the 2020 President’s Art Show can do so either by scheduling an in-person visit (see contact information above), or by viewing the virtual tour online (available during the second week of November). If you are planning to schedule an in-person viewing, please be advised that properly-worn masks are required, that we are not hosting groups of more than 19 people, we will need a full list of names and cell phone numbers of individuals joining your visit, and that there will not be printed programs but there will be a digital version available.

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