When Nathan Larsen was commuting 30 miles a day to his courier job, it didn’t take him long to realize that no one was making the bag that he wanted. He needed more pocket options to stay organized. He wanted a bag with a modern, clean look, made to withstand year-round Utah weather. And, of course, comfortable enough to carry for long distances. Nathan designed and … [Read more...]
Tiny Houses in Utah
Solving the Problem of Affordable Housing On a Glendale neighborhood street, amid old brick, cinder block and aluminum siding houses, a new home building idea is taking shape. With starter money from Salt Lake City Home Grants, and with help from the Crossroads Urban Center, Jeffrey White is building a tiny home. Doing most of the work himself, including fundraising, … [Read more...]
Tif Blue of Peach Treats
Local designers and artists open small businesses all the time, but it is a rare thing when the business revolves around such a unique, high demand product that the business flourishes immediately and is able to sustain its start-up momentum. This is exactly what happened for Tif Blue, the owner of Peach Treats, a Salt Lake City company that creates hand-made gauges and ear … [Read more...]
Painting with Passion: Ancient Arts in the Modern Era
Think Beastmaster: strong men wielding swords, animal skins on warrior princesses. This is not the art you hang on your walls because it goes nicely with your wallpaper, Walt’s style speaks of strength, passion and protection in an unforgiving world. Walt Bayless is an artist with a bold and ephemeral style. His paintings are full of action and emotion. Walt says, “Every … [Read more...]
Salt Lake Acting Company Takes On… Racism
A 300-year-old scarred oak tree inspires a story exploring who we are and who we once were, personalizing racial prejudice and its consequences. Utah has one of the highest percentages of whites in the nation, according to U.S. Census surveys. So is a play set in New Jersey which explores issues of race and racism relevant to Utahns? “Culturally, in Utah it’s very … [Read more...]
Bellmaker of Dewyville
Art, Family & Alchemy Bellmakers once served very important roles in both Eastern and Western culture. The job description conjures up visions of a lonely hermit smithing away at church bells, but I’ve come to learn that nothing could be further from the truth. First, Doug Adams is robustly middle-aged. A steel worker for thirty years, his artist wife, Diane, inspired … [Read more...]
Cinematic History Made in Kanab
Kanab became famous for providing some of the best backdrops for western film heroes riding off into the sunset. It was such a hotbed for Hollywood stars that the town earned the nickname “Little Hollywood.” Situated in Kane County with easy access to the “Grand Circle”, a series of state and national parks and monuments including Bryce Canyon National Park, The … [Read more...]
Sugar House Scene — Preserving the famous signs in Sugar House
Four years ago, Laurie Bray took a walk around the Sugar House Business District with her dog Lola and a Nikon camera. Laurie is a professional photographer with an eye for images that tell a story. On that day she was collecting pictures of colorful, vintage signs that were instantly recognizable as symbols of Sugar House. It is fortunate that Bray took photos of those … [Read more...]
Volkswagon Bus Camping and the Journey to Burning Man
For Coulson Rich, camping is indeed a lifestyle. “When I bought my bus, I was no longer comfortable paying rent. I wanted to live in my bus and have the freedom to move around and see the country.” Rich says he spent six years in his early twenties living out of his 1972 VW bus. He customized it with cabinetry, wood floors and upholstery. His first jaunt was a three-week trek … [Read more...]
Violin Making School of America
“No one comes here because they want to be rich; we all come here because we love music,” says John Nickels, a student at the Violin Making School of America in Salt Lake City. “Anyone who wants to go here better want to do this as a profession or a very serious hobby,” he adds. About the YouTube video short documentary film above: Richard … [Read more...]