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The Utah Museum of contemporary Art (UMOCA) is a small art museum in Downtown Salt Lake City. It features a few galleries of contemporary art.
I have been wanting to come visit it since I noticed it when we came by Abravanel Hall last year. But, with the talks of Ryan Smith wanting to completely revamp the entire area and having no clue what may become of the museum, I decided we should probably come check it out sooner rather than later. That seems to be a recurring theme lately...
Sunday is our normal adventure day, and I had planned to come here then, since it was super rainy last Sunday. But I found that they are closed on Sundays, but at the same time I noticed they have extended hours on Fridays so I decided we would come see it the following Friday.
Hahaha. Oh man, I forgot how rough downtown is on a Friday night. o.O Maybe we should have done Saturday.
Quick Details:
Length: Depends on how much you wander. I would guess we did about a half mile.
Trail Type: Meander.
Difficulty: Modern building with an elevator. DR2.
Elevation Gain: 1 story.
Restroom: Yes.
Dogs? No.
Other Info: It is donation based, but the suggested donation for an adult is $10.
To Get Here:
Take i15 to 600 South heading east. Turn left on West Temple. Go about 5 blocks and find parking.
20 S W Temple St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
You could also take Trax to the Temple Square Station then it just a quick 2/10ths of a mile walk south.
The “back” side of City Creek Center.
The Adventure:
The sign.
The front entrance.
Direct quote from their website: "Contemporary art is art made in the past 5-6 decades. It can be made with any medium, including painting, sculpture, photography, video, ceramic, multimedia, and so much more. Contemporary artists present images and ideas that relate to the world we live in today."
The Projects Gallery featuring: 2002 Subaru Forester - Madeline Rupard
It is a fun little exhibit.
I liked this one.
Wait a second… did we still have tape decks back in 2002? Huh. I guess they persisted until the late 2000’s.
Outside the exhibit.
The Street Gallery featuring: Artists Against the Bomb - Multiple Artists
No Kings No Nukes.
Nuclear War is Bad for Kittens.
More.
This is trippy.
More.
Young Artists Give Me a Face.
Above the Main Gallery.
Just a quick floor down the stairs or there is an elevator option.
Main Gallery Presented by The Diane & Sam Stewart Family Foundation.
Gradient newspapers.
Maze of doors.
Okay… that was… something. I didn’t notice any info sign for it so… yeah, no clue.
Untitled - Kara Walker.
Info Sign. It was made from layers of paper.
I don’t remember what this one is.
Keys to Open the Beginning Before the End - Beth Krensky
Closer.
Info sign.
Evergreen - Dawoud Bey
It is a series of 3 screens.
Info sign.
Thermal Fountain - William Lamson
Info sign.
Learning to Listen - Paul Crow
Info sign.
I didn’t catch the info sign for this one.
Or this one.
I really like this big 7 panel mural. It reminds me a lot of Black Rock but it is not Black Rock. It took us a minute to find the info sign, it is on the wall opposite. I thought I got a picture, but I guess not. If I remember right it is somewhere in the Middle East.
Another one I didn’t get the sign.
A Paved Work of Pure Gold L (Jason Metcalf).
This one is neat.
Info sign.
More neat art.
Double Nonsite, California and Nevada - Robert Smithson.
Info sign.
Smithson is the guy who designed the incredible Spiral Jetty
Spectre - Katie Paulson.
Uhm… I don’t get it.
Info sign.
This one again.
Broken rock on a book.
Again, didn’t catch the info sign.
Old people smoking.
Across the gallery.
Back to the keys.
I think they are neat.
From the front.
Time Keepers - Stefan Lesuer
Info sign.
We took the elevator this time, which smelled of fresh paint… and had some grown ass persons hand prints all over it. o.O
Above the main gallery again.
Mad - Ryan Handley.
This is audio only, so no picture. But it is the sound of a package being shipped. I found it interesting.
The door maze again. I guess it wasn’t really a maze… just a series of doors. Again, I never did find the info sign for it. We learned some of the signs were in weird places though.
Back to the lobby. With Wall Drawing No. 309 - Sol Lewitt
I found a nice inexpensive magnet in the gift shop and called it good. There were a couple other things I kind of wanted but, meh.
We missed the Codec Gallery on the top floor. If it is where I think it is, that area appeared to have a private function going on. We also didn't catch exactly where the A.I.R. Space Gallery was on the bottom floor. I don't think we missed it though, just didn't catch where it was. The exit gallery had a screen, but it wasn't showing anything so... maybe there wasn't anything on display at the moment.
Back outside, above the entrance.
The entrance.
Well that was fun! The Contemporary Arts Museum was neat, but awfully small, without a whole lot to it. I appreciate art, and artists, but, meh. I guess it just wasn’t my cup of tea today. But, I am glad we came to see it before whatever happens to it. meh… 7 squirrels.
As for difficulty, it is a modern building with 2 floors, with an elevator. DR2.
Dogs are not allowed, so be sure to leave Fido home.
