Bountiful Davis Art Center debuts new space
Jenifer Evertsen holds up her son, Zayden (2), so he can get a look at the tiny fish inside a of a very unique Ceramic fish tank created by Jared Arvidsen of Bountiful High, on display as part of the Davis School District Secondary Students Exhibit at the Bountiful/Davis Art Center in Bountiful on April 8, 2015.
Dallas Bradbury, the ceramics teacher at Clearfield High School, looks over students ceramics work on display as part of the Davis School District Secondary Students Exhibit at the Bountiful/Davis Art Center in Bountiful on April 8, 2015.
Abby Henrie, an art student at Bountiful High, looks at other students artwork on display as part of the Davis School District Secondary Students Exhibit at the Bountiful/Davis Art Center in Bountiful on April 8, 2015.
The opening of the Davis School District Secondary Students Exhibit at the Bountiful/Davis Art Center brought in a full house of students, teachers, and public in Bountiful on April 8, 2015.
An eye catching oil painting entitled “Madeliene” by artist Abby Henrie, of Bountiful High, on display as part of the Davis School District Secondary Students Exhibit at the Bountiful/Davis Art Center in Bountiful on April 8, 2015.
BOUNTIFUL — Hundreds of people walked through the doors of the Bountiful Davis Art Center Wednesday night for the opening reception of the first exhibit in the center’s new space.
BDAC chose Davis School District’s Secondary Student and Art Educators Exhibit as its christening show, which brought in attendees from all over Davis County.
“We are just completely blown away by the number of people who are here,” said Emma Dugal, BDAC executive director. “We expected a big crowd because it’s a huge event to be back in Bountiful and to be up and going — it’s been a long haul to get to this point.”
Dugal said 75 to 100 people usually show up for the exhibit, which has been hosted by BDAC for 30 years. She estimated that triple that amount came this year.
The huge turnout was overwhelming for Dugal to witness, as she said the new space would not have been possible without the support from volunteers, patrons and Bountiful city.
“Bountiful Davis Arts Center has been around for 40 years and we’ve had a two year stint in Farmington while this building was getting ready. … We’ve had people from all over participate in our exhibits and come to the exhibits but this is bringing in a whole new energy,” Dugal said.
The new space, located at 90 N. Main St., is home to three galleries — a main gallery and recital stage, along with an annex and downstairs or “underground” gallery. Davis County high school students displayed their work in the main gallery, with junior high artwork in the annex and educators displaying downstairs.
“I enjoy it, it’s nice that they have the large gallery upstairs where they can put items — especially for this show — where they can put everyone together, and it feels more modern,” said Shon Feller, a Woods Cross High School art teacher, of the new space in comparison to the previous center. “It’s more conducive to the gallery experience.”
It’s nice to have a place where art can exhibit in Davis County, said Tiffany Midgley, Centerville Junior High School assistant principal.
“It’s nice to have something new, something bright, something made for this purpose,” she said.
Angi Rayl, of Kaysville, said the new space is more intimate and personal with better lighting.
“It’s beautiful,” Rayl said. “I think it’s great to have a place to come and see art from all ages and have a place to gather and celebrate people’s talent.”
Meghan McDonald, art teacher at West Point Junior High School, said she had both her students that were in the show come, and that it was exciting to experience having their art displayed.
“I feel really grateful that (BDAC is) letting Davis School District be the first opening show for them, so we’re really excited — I’m really excited,” McDonald said.
Choosing the exhibit was a stroke of genius, North Salt Lake resident Julie Kadrmas said, since it will get people to want to come back.
“I’d have to say it shows a commitment to the community and to give students an opportunity to show their art to the rest of the community is going to just encourage them to go on and do bigger things,” said Julie Kadrmas’ husband, Dan Kadrmas.
Feller said it makes him feel supported as an art teacher.
“They’re emphasizing that it’s important for the community and for the students in the community to feel accepted and have that artistic experience,” he said.
People often think of student art as not up to par, Midgley said, who was blown away by the art displayed.
“I love that (the students) can have their art exhibited in a place that’s meant for artists, that their art can be displayed like an artist’s work would be, because they really are artists,” she said.
Dugal said it’s wonderful to see what the students come up with every year.
“It feels wonderful to highlight the high school and junior high school students because they’re so original and they’re so brave with what they do. … They’re not constricted by a lot of rules, they’re just very free with what they do and their expression and it comes through,” she said.
Dugal believes this year’s show was on a higher caliber than many previous student exhibits they’ve had, she said.
McDonald said the exhibit excited and motivated the students.
“It opens their eyes outside of the classroom space and they can see the potential and it’s very motivating for them,” she said.
Feller thinks it boosts their confidence, he said.
“I think when they see it on the wall, in a frame, with the gallery lighting, you know, they see hundreds of people looking at it — it definitely helps them feel validated as an artist, where as before they’ve never had that experience so they might not believe in what they’re doing,” Feller said.
Anise Pribbanow, 18 and a Woods Cross High School student who won third place in drawing, said the new space looks more like a gallery.
“It’s so nice and it feels so cool to be in it,” she said. “You’re like, ‘Wow, I’m actually in a real art show,’ not just hanging up in like a room or something, with all the lights and it just looks so awesome.”
Dugal said the night was more of a “soft opening” for the new space, and that a grand opening is planned for May 15, during the reception for the Annual Statewide Competition.
The exhibit will be on display until May 1. The BDAC’s hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday. To learn more about the BDAC, visit bdac.org.
Contact reporter Sonja Carlson at 801-625-4229 or scarlson@standard.net. Follow her on Twitter @sonjacSE and like her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SonjaCarlsonSE.