5 Spot | Oregon artist Brittany Powell | 5 Spot | Salt Lake City Weekly
Support the Free Press | Facts matter. Truth matters. Journalism matters
Salt Lake City Weekly has been Utah's source of independent news and in-depth journalism since 1984. Donate today to ensure the legacy continues.

News » 5 Spot

5 Spot | Oregon artist Brittany Powell

by

comment
fivespot_080814.jpg

Oregon-based artist Brittany Powell exhibits her wall-size pages of the West Elm catalog at the Kimball Art Center (638 Park Ave., Park City, 435-649-8882) from Aug. 16 to Oct. 26, with an art talk and reception on Saturday, Aug. 16 from 6-8 p.m.

Why an exhibit of a furniture catalog? How is that art?
I want to point out the beauty in the things we see every day.

What do you do with an X-Acto knife?
The Kimball painted the walls light purple for me. I’m putting up wood-grain contact paper all over the walls, and then I cut pieces away to make about 8-foot-tall versions of the West Elm catalog pages. I’m not actually putting catalog pages on the wall; I’m cutting out giant murals of the catalog pages.

With so much precision cutting, how do you avoid carpal tunnel?
I’m a little worried about that. I don’t think I am avoiding it (laughs).

Why did you turn the Boise Art Museum into the interior of a Mexican restaurant?
It was what a Mexican restaurant is in my mind. Again, I am trying to point out the beauty in the things we see every day rather than having it be a high-minded thing.

What are you most pleased about with your Kimball installation?
I really like a lot of the details. I specifically chose the West Elm catalog because they have nice silhouettes and nice patterns that are very graphic and lend themselves to the two-color motif.

What makes you think so big?
It just seems like a wonderful way to make the point that things we see in our daily lives can be just as beautiful as any artwork. Part of it is that I want to make something very special and handmade out of something mass produced.

Tags