4 Ways Original Artwork Connects People and Creates a Sense of Belonging "At One" by GayLynn Ribeira, Spiritual Connection Art Here's the thing . In a world of social media, short videos, artificially crafted imagery, we are constantly being bombarded by imagery.   So why does anyone choose to stroll through an art gallery? There are far more images on the internet than on our walls, so why choose to come? Why choose to purchase?   Local collector and art enthusiast, Mrs. Mangum, says she chooses to interact with and be surrounded by original art for one simple reason: "Art provides connection for me."   Intrigued, we asked her to tell us more. Mangum said, "There's something joyous to be able to share my art [collection] with others. It's mama pride when I see it, not in an ego way, but in a stewardship way. I have the ability to share it. It really is a window into people's personalities."   So how exactly does art provide connection? How Art Connects People #1 - Art connects life experiences "Your Life is Your Life" Stacy Weitz Minch Have you ever seen a piece of art and thought, "this is me" or "I've been there before"? We have too. The incredible thing about this is that most likely, the artist has also passed through a similar experience that led to the creation of the artwork. Perhaps the person next to you has also had a similar experience. Suddenly, you are not alone. Someone out there has had a similar life experience to you. That realization connects souls and makes us realize that we are all not so different . How Art Connects People #2 - Art connects by connecting us to our emotions "Seeking Further Light" Jenna Conlin Emotions can be hard to put into words. Sometimes, viewing a visual representation of an emotion can lead to a revelation: "THAT is how I feel!" Connecting to your emotions helps you to better understand yourself. This in turn allows you to better show up and express yourself to the people in your life. Art connects you to the inner you . A stronger connection to self forges a stronger potential connection to others. How Art Connects People #3 - Art connects by providing beauty "Grounded" Natalie Jeanne Maybe this one feels obvious to you, but there is a reason why lovers and friends journey to sites with brilliant sunsets, scenery, and architecture. We are drawn to beauty, and we are motivated to share that beauty with those around us. Art is such a shareable form of beauty. The best part is that art is so varied and accessible, there is beauty for literally anyone and everyone of all tastes and preferences. Share your favorite artworks with your friends and family. Share why they are beautiful to you. How Art Connects People #4 - Art Connects by Fostering Discussions "Upon Reflection" Lisa DeLong Maybe you've noticed a theme. All of the ways that art connects inevitably lead to conversations and reflection. Commenting on shared experiences, felt emotions, shared beauty, and intriguing insights leads to discussions and connections that cheap imagery and fast-paced content cannot. This world is fast paced. Imagery comes and goes. A lot of it is false and contrived.   Perhaps this is what makes original artwork so valuable. It has a permanence and an ability to create connection and conversation. It is the window to the soul of the artist and a door to the soul of others. So , is original art obsolete in 2025? We don't think so.   And we wanted to start of this year personally thanking you for the connections you have made with your art, through your patronage, and through your promotions of originality and vulnerability that come with being a supporter of original, tangible, human-made artwork.   So thank you! All artwork listed is available for purchase. Click the artwork. Browse our selection Share your thoughts below! How has art created connections for you? Alondra Uhi, 1/24/25

Ed Alvarez, Victoria Schiodtz June 2nd - July 1st, 2023 Among the spaces that make up our environment, that exist between different moments and places in our lives, and that contain our memories, these pieces are found. It is what is missing, it is what evidences the loss and absence of a past time, of a place, of a person, which in turn evidences presence through the trace, the mark. ADWDAW That is filling in the blank space. To recognize that it exists as such.

New religious work exploring seeking wholeness of self and community through Christ. Esther Hi'ilani Candari November 3rd - November 25th, 2023

Sarah Winegar and Elizabeth Bishop Wheatley November 3rd - November 25th, 2023

A collection of paintings by the esteemed Argentinian painter September 29th - November 18th "In this series of images, you will find forms that will remind you of stelae, totems, altars, sacred artifacts, and monuments that contain strange and indecipherable messages that transcend time and space. ​ "You will see elements and forms that seem part of high-technology mechanics or from an advanced society, "and at the same time you will find textures and symbols that feel primitive and ancestral. By putting together those two elements, old and new, where matter and space converge without defined limits, I make an open invitation to perceive the relativity of time and of our own existence. ​ "It is captivating still to learn of the different cultures that preceded us, which have left us testimony of their indecipherable myths and their deities. In my art, I paint the reality of an alternate universe that provides us with suggestions of possibilities that each one of us may explore and discover. ​ "Art may enrich your culture, elevate your spirit, and take you to otherworldly landscapes, but in any case, a work of art serves its purpose and justifies its existence just by being an aesthetic item for decoration."

Sculptures under five inches and five lbs Various Artists August 25 - October 28, 2023

August 18th - September 30th, 2023 An exploration of the interpretation and visualization of sacred text. Marissa Albrecht Whitney Ostebo James Rees Esther H. Candari Sabrina Squires Hannah Olive Ben Crowder Javicci Janiece Murray Lovetta Reyes Cairo Lisa De Long

August 18th - September 30th, 2023 This new body of work explores the tension between the said and the unsaid in the text of 1 Nephi chapters one through four. This collection has nearly forty paintings with many smaller works available. ​ Continuing his ongoing exploration of the Book of Mormon through abstracted, but moving vignettes, J Kirk Richards here approaches the introductory chapters of the Book of Mormon. These chapters are rich with visions, revelations, emotions, conflict, and historical context.

In her recent body of work Lover Lay Down, Nancy Andruk Olson explores the story of Adam and Eve, the beauty of paradisaical Eden, and the humanity of the expulsion. ​ July 14th - August 19th, 2023

Friday July 21st - Saturday August 19th, 2023 "The Wound is a Womb is a series of 3-dimensional stigmata. The biblical wounds from Christ’s crucifixion have come to symbolize His holy sacrifice and His love for humanity; I see obvious parallels, both visually and conceptually, in the sacrifice and love of womanhood, of motherhood, and of birth. This show ties together  sacrifice and fertility in favor of the feminine divine."

July 21st - August 19th, 2023 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them Exodus 25:8 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16 I am she; I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. Isaiah 46:4

Marlena Wilding & K Dawn June 2nd - July 1st, 2023 Genesis: The Creation of Us is a groundbreaking two woman show by the WildDawn Collective. This show begins it's narrative at our gallery and ends at the JKR Gallery (1675 N Freedom Blvd Unit 7B, Provo, UT 84604). It explores the embodied experience of black women from birth to death.​