Moab Happenings Archive

GALLERY HAPPENINGS - November 2024

November at Gallery Moab
by Thea Nordling

Gallery Moab is an artist-owned and operated cooperative gallery dedicated to supporting local artists and building community through the arts. We feature original art and hand-made crafts, all created by local artists with deep connections to our unique landscape and lifestyle. Our talented artists and artisans express themselves through many different mediums and styles, including paintings in oil, acrylic, watercolor and pastel, photography, cards, prints, ceramics, wood carvings, metal sculptures, fused glass, fabric creations and jewelry. Each month we look forward to new and exciting work by special guest artists.

Ceramic artist Joanne Savoie is in the gallery’s spotlight during November. She is a well-known local artist, teacher, mentor and student of the ceramic arts. Her work has been in galleries, studio tours, silent auctions, art festivals and gift shops in Moab for several decades. She is inspired by the lines, textures, contrasts and architectural landscapes of the cliffs and canyons of her back yard, and by the artistry of fellow artists. She is displaying the results of her exploration of textures and colors in her new work.

Savoie makes both wheel-thrown and hand- built ceramics, usually mid-range fired stoneware. She creates both decorative and utilitarian pieces that evoke the natural forces that have shaped our remarkable landscape. Describing her creative process, she says,”The geologic exposures of erosion by wind, water and fire create the textures, patterns, colors and possibilities for artistic expressions.” The earthy colors and textures and the unusual, playful shapes of her works are a visual and tactile delight.

Savoie enjoys experimentation and surprise and describes opening her kiln after firing as “sort of like Christmas; have I been a good girl or a bad girl this time?” Her latest work is the result of an experiment with slip texturing and playing with new colors. After recently challenging her students to learn slip texturing in classes at Desert Sun Ceramics Studio, she has eagerly continued to explore the process on her own. Along with free-standing pieces, she will also have wall-hanging pieces incorporating the coiled process she has used in the past.

The last ArtWalk of the season is on Friday, November 1. Stop by Gallery Moab to visit with Savoie and see the latest surprises from her kiln at a special reception from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Enjoy refreshments, and mingle with local artists and art lovers.

Open Sunday & Monday 12:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Tuesday through Saturday 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.

One of the artists is always on hand to help you find that one-of-a kind gift or memento of your vacation. We offer something to appeal to any taste and budget.

We look forward to your visit!
Call 435-220-0891 and we will gladly open by appointment during other hours.

Gallery Moab LCA • 59 South Main Street #1, Moab, Utah 84532 • 435-355-0024
gallerymoab.com

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Making Art led to Self-Discovery for this Moab Artist
who uses ink on paper to make his abstract works
by Sharon Sullivan

Cozy Cole has always enjoyed self-expression, creativity and opening himself up to the world of art.

Cole’s current medium is ink on paper, where they make abstract, shapes and patterns.

“It feels a little like I’m a vessel of which the energy flows through,” said Cole (who identifies as non-binary and uses the pronoun “they”). “I rarely start with a vision (of the end product), I just start with ink on paper and see what happens.”

You can find Cole’s prints at Moab Made, 82 N. Main St., a shop that features the works of local artists and artisans. Cole also sell prints via his Instagram account, as well as in-person contacts. You can additionally find their work at the Moab Regional Airport, and at the Spanish Valley Winery. His Instagram handle is @cozysoul91.

Cole’s work hung at the Moab Arts and Recreation Center (MARC), 111 E. 100 North, during the month of October – including two original pieces that are technically not for sale, although anyone can feel free to make an offer, they said. Cole’s prints were also exhibited at the MARC during September’s Red Rock Arts Festival.

Cole was inspired to start working with ink and paper after discovering the work of Italian artist Roberta Buffo, whose “medium of choice is ink on paper and acrylic on canvas.” Cole loved Buffo’s work and so bought some sketchbooks and sharpie pens and tried their own hand at it.

Prior to exploring ink and paper, Cole’s artform was making hip hoppy beat music on the computer for 12 years. They have two albums, one titled “First Pancake,” and the other “Soul Support” both of which can be listened to on the music sharing platforms SoundCloud and Bandcamp.

Like many artists, Cole has another job – they help run the locally-owned restaurant, 98 Center.

However, Moab Made has been a good venue for showing and selling their artwork. Prints made from a high quality fine-art paper are available upon request.

“I have a huge appreciation for the level of self-discovery I have made through making art,” Cole said. “It’s a huge contributing factor of the way I move through life.”

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