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Show KAC Notes by Corke Pepper What qualities determine an artist? Talent, drive, desire? All of th ose qualities help but the artist himself is the ultimate artwork of the creative process of life. Thinking helps to make it so. An artist cannot be an artist in the abstract. That is like wanting to be successful, but not knowing what you want to be successful "at." An aspiring artist must have a specific field of work in which he can imagine himself growing. As he gives himself to it externally, the image of himself as a special type of artist manifests itself inside. This point was illustrated in a recent newspaper interview with a California artist. The reporter asked her at what point in her life she became an artist. The moment was clear in her mind. It came about during the "hippie" period of the 60s. She was photographing out on the desert with some friends. Two of the boys had long hair. Unknown to them, a drug raid was going on in the area. Because of the boys' long hair, a suspicious police officer; approached them and demanded an explanation of what they were doing. When the officer asked the girl, she pulled herself up to full height and said, "I am an artist." That was the first time she had ever said it aloud. It is that moment she credits as the beginning of her commitment to become an artist. In identifying herself as such, she says that she felt bound to fulfill the obligation or be a phony. A phony she is not. Her name is Ming Lowe. Her work has achieved appreciative recognition in Southern California and will be shown in the Kimball Art Center Main Gallery next December. Many of us have talents, it is those among us who recognize within ourselves the creative process and then choose to develop it who achieve recognition, however. This is true no matter what our field visual arts, performing arts, writing, music. We ourselves are the ultimate artwork. The Kimball Art Center endeavors to encourage growth in the creative process. Registration is now underway for Spring courses in Great Books, Introduction to Imaginative Writing and Volunteerism in the Fine Arts sponsored by the Univ. of Utah's Division of Continuing Education. In the summertime, KAC's Park City Summer Arts Institute will sponsor workshops in quiltmaking, drawing, painting, ceramics, journalism and photo-journalism conducted by celebrated guest instructors and faculty members of the Univ. of Utah. Opportunities like this are rare in most communities. Certainly they enchance Park City as a summer resort. One of the great advantages is that rental rates then are seasonally low. While acquiring college credits - or just taking classes for self-development visitors also have the advantage of the pine-scented cool climate and outdoor activities. Workshops are limited in size, however, so come in soon so we can sign you up early. |