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Utah Travel Headlines

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Unique Art Projects Open for Community Participation In Unique Exhibit

People from the Provo/Salt Lake City area and from around the country are invited to participate in a unique community art project at Brigham Young University with artist Marie Watt. The "Shaping America" exhibit will show wool blankets, and showcase stories and memories associated with those blankets.

The project caught my attention because it seeks to tie in blanks and stories from Native American cultures, the pioneer era and modern America. It should be very interesting.

The museum, of course, has many exhibits and programs that are open to the public. Some give patrons the opportunity to get involved in the art. It is worth visiting the museum, which is located on the BYU campus in Provo.

Meanwhile, at the  Natural History Museum of Utah an exhibit will open Saturday featuring contemporary Navajo baskets, created by a small group reviving the traditional art of basket making. That museum is on the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City. See details about that exhibit.

The BYU museum provided the information below.

Dear Museum Patron,

I invite you to join in the creation of a community art installation that will be displayed at the Brigham Young University Museum of Art (MOA).

The MOA and artist Marie Watt would like your wool blankets and their stories. Your blankets will become part of a blanket sculpture featured in the Shaping America exhibition, opening March 2013.

Marie is interested in the stories and memories often held by blankets and humble pieces of cloth. Blankets hold a deep personal meaning for her, as a member of the Seneca Nation of Indians. In the Seneca community, as with other indigenous groups, blankets are given to honor those who witness important life events. This connection between blankets and community inspires much of Marie’s artwork.

To celebrate our local community, we, and Marie, ask you to share your blankets and their stories. We welcome all wool blankets even if they are frayed or have holes. Blanket donations may be delivered to the MOA Information Desk located inside the east entrance of the museum before February 2, 2013. If you choose to share your blanket’s story, you may do so by writing it on a tag provided upon delivering your blanket to the MOA. The tags will be attached to each blanket in the blanket sculpture. As a participant, you will receive a small silkscreen print by the artist in exchange for your blanket contribution. Together, our blankets will be folded and stacked to create a skyward-reaching column and welcoming tower.

How to participate:
• Bring a blanket to the museum’s information desk by Feb. 2, 2013.
• If you would like, fill out a tag that shares something about your blanket’s story.
• In exchange for participating, receive a small silkscreen print by the artist.

You can download the Call_For_Blankets flyer for more information.

Thank you for supporting the Museum and its programs.

Best wishes,

Marian Wardle
Curator of American Art, BYU Museum of Art
North Campus Drive, Provo, UT 84602-1400

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