Backstage at The Utah Arts Festival 2015: ‘The Story of a Rain Night,’ ‘Wildlife,’ ’33 giri’ take top Fear No Film honors

Fifteen awards were announced today in the Fear No Film portion of the Utah Arts Festival, including a Grand Jury Prize, Utah Short Film of The Year, Fear No Filmmaker Award, three honorable mentions and the best short film in each of the seven ‘boundaries’ categories around which the film festival was organized as well … Read more

Backstage at The Utah Arts Festival 2015: Winners announced for Artist Marketplace, Literary Arts competition, IAMA songwriter

The Utah Arts Festival has announced various awards for the 39th annual event. Nine awards were presented for the artist marketplace. All of the award winners are eligible for invitation to the Utah Arts Festival in 2016. Best of Show and People’s Choice Award winners also will have their booth fees waived. The 40th annual … Read more

Backstage at The Utah Arts Festival 2015: Filmmakers Curtis Whitear, Gregory Unrau convey spirit of Fear No Film

Several filmmakers with entries in this year’s Fear No Film at the Utah Arts Festival have been visiting the event. And, their stories and background are as interesting as their films, echoing the mission of fearless filmmaking. Two examples are Curtis Whitear from the Utah Short Film of The Year competition and Gregory Unrau, the … Read more

Backstage at The Utah Arts Festival 2015: The story of Jake Buntjer and Mister Pauper in the Artists Marketplace

Mister Pauper is an artistic persona. Growing up, he followed an organized, well-chosen path both of practicality and spirituality which would have likely set his adult life securely, even as influences, desires, imagination and dreams subtly pushed him further toward unfettered creative pursuits. There were hesitations and doubts, waiting to be reconciled at the right … Read more

Backstage at The Utah Arts Festival 2015: Rachel Lee Priday, Aurelio, Lil’ Ed Williams lead closing day headliners

The Utah Arts Festival will close out its slate of musical headliners just as it opened – sampling from the broadest spectrum of music, this time 21st century classical, the Garifuba tradition emanating from Honduras, and the solid party band style of Chicago blues and shuffle. Rachel Lee Priday, 5 p.m., Festival Stage Still in … Read more

Backstage at The Utah Arts Festival 2015: Sound Mass’ glorious collaboration caps festival’s music slate

In music, rare is the instinct in collaboration between two groups, especially when both sets of musicians live in different cities and do not meet perhaps as often they might like. However, when they do meet, the instincts immediately mesh and the mass of sound created is exhilarating and, yes, glorious. It has been two … Read more

Backstage at The Utah Arts Festival 2015: Richard Hall gifted touch of contemporary realism in still life, landscapes

Richard Hall often comes up with the title of his painting before he has the image in mind. A native of Yorkshire in England who also worked for many years in the fine arts publishing business, he says in an interview with The Utah Review, “I enjoy the play on words. When I find what … Read more

Backstage at The Utah Arts Festival 2015: Royal Southern Brotherhood is true blue musical royalty

Royal Southern Brotherhood, June 27, 9:45 p.m., Amphitheater Stage It is often incomprehensible why Americans have such a penchant for royalty, given how the nation was formed. However, if Americans truly want royalty, look no further at the Utah Arts Festival than the music industry. And, few groups capture the royal identity better than the … Read more

Backstage at The Utah Arts Festival 2015: IAMA Day features John Gorka, The Kruger Brothers/Kontras Quartet, Songwriter Competition finals

After last year’s solid success at the Utah Arts Festival, the Intermountain Acoustic Music Association (IAMA) is once again sponsoring a day of performances tomorrow (June 27) by local and nationally know artists to demonstrate how interest in acoustic music and various musical niches and genres including folk, bluegrass, Irish, Celtic have grown in Utah … Read more

Backstage at The Utah Arts Festival 2015: Large-scale mural, sculpture, graffiti wall bring street swag to Urban Arts venue

One of the standout features in recent years in the Urban Arts venue at the Utah Arts Festival, Mason Fetzer’s 100 Artists / 1 image community mural project is taking on new significance in its fifth year. Previously, the finished pieces encompassing 100 tiles in a 20-foot installation – each painted by a different artist … Read more