Does artistic creativity run in families? Is it the result of nature, nurture, or just plain hard work? Probably all of the above play a part. Case in point – in July, Gallery Moab is featuring paintings by Emberly and Marsha Modine.

Emberly Modine, our July Guest Artist, will be showing a collection of her egg tempera paintings. A native of Utah, she attended the San Francisco Art Institute. Describing her muse, she says, “This desert, my homeland, has always been an emblem of the conversation between elemental forces. As a child I would marvel at the evidence of once massive lakes, and trace my fingers along lines cut by winds digging at ancient shorelines. Water is a dynamic force and though mostly absent in today’s desert, I have always seen the native juniper trees as the embodiment of that vital spirit. Sculpted by wind and stubbornly matching the brutal sun, they are as life erupting over eons from the rock and sand. In these works I seek to capture the conversation between ancient history and the living that creates one of earth’s most dynamic gardens.”

Our Featured Gallery Artist is Marsha Modine, Emberly’s mother. She has loved and created art in some form all her life. Explaining why she paints, she says, “Why not? It’s relaxing – sort of. It’s rewarding – somewhat. It’s creative – interpreting how beauty makes you feel. It’s fun. It’s frustrating. It’s satisfying. It’s a lot like life. What I think, see and feel are not the same as anyone else. It’s a good way to express your uniqueness.” Marsha took a hiatus from pursuing her art seriously when she became a single mom, but resumed her creative practices when her nest emptied. For several years she painted pastel landscapes and flower scenes. More recently she has turned to acrylics, which she loves for their bright colors and ease of use. She says, “I find that I respond emotionally to every painting in my house (the majority of which are not mine). I also paint from an emotional place, attempting to convey what I feel to, hopefully, the viewer.” She is, of course, very proud and supportive of her daughter’s creative accomplishments.

The gallery will host a reception for Emberly and Marsha on Saturday July 9, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. We hope you’ll take this opportunity to meet them, enjoy their art and mingle with other artists and art lovers. Our cooperative gallery offers a wide selection of original art and artisan crafts made by local artists, who work in many different styles and mediums. There is something at Gallery Moab for every taste and budget. That perfect gift or memento of your visit to the canyon country may be waiting here for you!

Open Sunday and Monday 12 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.; Tuesday through Saturday 12 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Call 435-220-0891 and we will gladly open by appointment during other hours.

Be sure to mention that you read about Gallery Moab in Moab Happenings.

Gallery Moab LCA 59 South Main Street #1, Moab, Utah 84532 • 435-355-0024
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The Moab Arts Re-Use Residency (MARR) is excited to welcome its second artist in residence, installation artist Justin Tyler Tate, for four weeks this July.

Justin Tyler Tate received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from NSCAD University in Nova Scotia and a Master of Fine Arts from Helsinki Academy of Fine Arts in Finland. His work combines elements of sculpture, installation, media, performance, and social art. Architecture, carpentry, botany, cooking, electronics, chemistry, new-media, and more are all merged under a single umbrella of researched-based artistic production in response to contemporary problems. He has exhibited more than 100 projects in 20+ countries on 4 continents throughout the last decade as a professional artist!

While in Moab, Justin will be working on constructing playground equipment out of waste materials such as steel, wood, tires, DC motors, LEDs, Li-ion batteries, and USB devices. The work will emphasize play as a source of power—the installation created during the residency will illuminate the night and charge devices.

MARR began in 2020 with the mission of providing an alternative option for waste management and challenging the perception of waste culture. The residency provides a unique platform for artists at the intersection of art, community, and waste systems. Through partnerships with the Solid Waste Special Service District #1 and WabiSabi Thrift Store, artists source their materials directly from Moab valley’s waste stream. Resident artists are asked to provide opportunities for community engagement, whether they be open studio events, workshops, or otherwise, in addition to the donation of one work of art created during the duration of the residency. Upcoming events and the location of Tate’s installation will be announced in June.

Subscribe to the Moab Arts newsletter at www.moabarts.org and follow @moabarts on Instagram to receive notice of upcoming events. For more information about the residency, contact Melisa Morgan, Associate Director of Moab Arts, mmorgan@moabcity.org or (435) 259-6272. To see more of Justin Tyler Tate’s work, visit his website at www.justintylertate.weebly.com