Plush concrete in Sugar House
Eye-catching seats among art projects dotting Salt Lake area
But most of the stores that made Sugar House the valley's go-to center for furniture are gone now, giving way to big-box retailers and other new development.
Given the area's history, the new furniture that arrived in Sugar House on Saturday turned several heads and had many others nodding in approval.
Six benches with concrete "cushions" were installed in the Sugar House business district over the weekend by Eric Thelander, the artist who created them.
Thelander, who lives in Albuquerque, N.M., was commissioned by the Salt Lake City Arts Council to construct and install the benches as public art. The $40,000 project was funded by Salt Lake City's Redevelopment Agency.
"They have a different look than any other concrete I've seen," Thelander said of his work. "It's an odd form to see concrete in. It looks like it would be plush. I hope people aren't too disappointed when they sit on them."
Public art projects like the new benches in Sugar House can be found throughout the city, creating "a sense of place" for an area and its residents, said Nancy Boskoff, executive director of the Salt Lake City Arts Council.
Sometimes it's commemorative, sometimes it's humorous and sometimes it's a source of community pride, she said. But because each commission is original work, it's always different.
"Public art enhances our culture," said Bruce Miya, a Salt Lake City architect and member of the arts council. "It can be kind of a sign of the times, reflective of the times and the culture of an area."
In January, Steenblik Park in the Rose Park neighborhood saw the area's history revisited with the addition of "Dairy Cats," created by Utah artist Day Christensen. The four 4-foot cast-bronze cats are a nod to the Steenblik family, who for many years operated a dairy in the area.
"They make you smile," Boskoff said of the "Dairy Cats." "The idea is they're the cats you'd find hanging around the barn either waiting for milk or mice."
Another recent addition to the city are the "Flying Objects," 12 sculptures grouped at three sites downtown. Each sculpture is attached to a pole and will remain on display for three years — while much of downtown undergoes extensive construction as part of the LDS Church's $1.5 billion City Creek Center development.
"We wanted a lighthearted visual addition to downtown during this period of heavy construction and transition," Boskoff said.
The arts council has teamed up with the Utah Transit Authority to add art to all of the TRAX stations in the city, as well as Salt Lake City's commuter rail station and intermodal hub.
Recent comments
i think the city got a symbol for suggarhouse.
Sean | March 25, 2008 at 6:11 p.m.
A $40,000 budget for a project like this one has to pay for many,...
Sasha | March 25, 2008 at 1:54 p.m.
Personally, it is touches like this that make downtowns fun and interesting...
Anonymous | March 24, 2008 at 8:40 p.m.
