Triptych Notes

TRAUMA, TORTILLAS AND TEAPOTS

What do they have in common? They’re all being featured in unique exhibits at the Kimball Art Center this winter.

Glass artist Ginny Ruffner suffered a violent car accident at the age of 39 and was told she would never be able to continue her artwork. Her artistic determination proved her doctors wrong. She has become a thriving artist today, in spite of being paralyzed on one side of her body. Ruffner’s exhibit, “Aesthetic Engineering,” will show at the Kimball, November 3, 2007 – January 10, 2008.

The Mid America Arts Alliance held a competition to find the most creatively- made teapots in the nation. The top selections are featured in the traveling exhibit, “Teapots: Object to Subject,” which will show in the Main Gallery at the Kimball, April 6 – May 25, 2008.

Joe Bravo, who’s been featured in the Washington Post and LA Times, makes unique art out of tortillas. His exhibit, “Tortilla Art by Joe Bravo” will be shown in the Main Gallery from February 2 – March 30, 2008. www.kimball-art.org.

KUDOS TO SUSAN SWARTZ

Park City’s Susan Swartz will present her first major museum show at the Utah Museum of Fine arts this winter: an exhibition entitled, “Natural Revelations: Paintings by Susan Swartz.” The show will run from January 11 - April 13, 2008. Susan is particularly known for her impressionistic landscapes and nature scenes. She’s created a body of work that examines the diverse forms and rich metaphorical associations of nature. The show will include 20 acrylic paintings on large linen canvasses. www.umfa.utah.edu.

Susan has also just published her first book, “Natural Revelations - The Art of Susan Swartz.” This 108-page coffee table book focuses on art, nature and spirituality and is available at local bookstores, Phoenix Gallery and online at www.susanswartz.com. Cost is $45. A fun detail? Famed chimpanzee researcher Jane Goodall wrote the conclusion for the book, charging new generations with taking care of our environment.

RICH WYMAN CELEBRATES NEW CD

Park City’s own Rich Wyman has just produced his sixth album, entitled “Embrace.” The double disc set, including a CD and a DVD, features live and studio musical tracks from 1999 – 2007, new and old material, interviews, photos, show performances and more. “It has me performing solo piano, performing as a duo with my wife Lisa, with my U.S. band and with my European band. It covers it all,” says Wyman. “I made it as a thank you to my fans, who have been so good to me, and it was really fun to combine new material with my very favorite work from the past.”

“Embrace” is available for $20 in Park City at Dolly’s Bookstore or Orion’s, or online at www.richwyman.com. And by the way, Wyman is currently completing his 50th European tour, almost ten years to the day of his first one. Congratulations, Rich!