BOUNTIFUL—It’s been said that a society is truly thriving when they are regularly creating and embracing art. If the Bountiful Davis Art Center (BDAC) is any indication, then Bountiful truly is a thriving community and its Artist-in-residence program is just one of the many ways in which that shows.

Like many other Artist-in-residence programs, the Test Site at the BDAC offers artists the opportunity to hone their craft and explore different avenues of creativity and sometimes mediums they may not be familiar with as they work in the studio, bringing their unique perspective and style to the community.

“Our hope is to bring a range of visual voices to BDAC all working with different concepts, materials and practices,” said Alison Neville, the BDAC’s Education Director. “There is so much variety within the art community that we hope visitors come to know and appreciate through this program and our exhibitions in general. Many of the AIRs choose to share their knowledge through hands-on workshops and engaging artist talks provided at no or little cost. It's an excellent opportunity to shed some light on a career path that tends to hold many false stereotypes.”

This year brings three new artists to the BDAC: David Ammon Downs from Davis County School District, Terrell Vanleeuwen from Sandy and Horacio Rodriguez, originally from Houston, now much more local, in Bountiful. Each has something completely new and different to offer and the community should definitely be excited. 

“It's always exciting to work with artists at this pivotal age and watch many of them go on to study art at University and begin their creative practice,” says Neville, speaking about the youngest AIR this year, David Ammon Downs. “I’m excited to see his sculptural forms develop further along with the potential for brand new two-dimensional work.”

SCULPTURE BY JUNIOR ARTIST in Residence, David Ammon Downs. Courtesy.

There’s plenty to come from the more experienced artists as well. Terrel Vanleeuwen actually had a solo show at the BDAC in 2021, but expects this residency to be somewhat different, “My goal is to produce the art, but I also want to meet people, I’m interested in meeting the people.” Vanleeuwen, an artist with 35 years of experience, wants to see just how his art relates to the people viewing it, and he’s not the only one.

TERREL VANLEEUWEN and his oil painting, Dad. Courtesy Photos.

This residency will allow artists to break new ground, and try new things outside their normal sphere. Such is the case with Horacio Rodriguez, who is blending the old with the new, using a 1970s Holga camera, and a self-built, wall-mounted pen plotter. “It’s exciting to try something new,” said Rodriguez. “I like being able to explore and play and use new techniques.” As the pen plotter takes time to complete, the public will actually be able to see the art being created in real-time through the windows of the studio.

Horacio Rodriguez and his piece, HUITZILOPOTCHLI COCKTAILS. Courtesy Photos.

While many locals may be familiar with art galleries and visiting various displays and presentations, some may not be as familiar with work produced by artists-in-residence. How should one approach this new feature? By immersing oneself in the art, according to Neville. “Think of ways each piece can relate to your life and connect you to the artist. While not every artist and every work will be your favorite it should still be valued as creative expression and you may discover something new about yourself.”

This was a sentiment echoed by the artists themselves, with the common theme being that art is subjective. What one viewer may see, the next may not, and so on. Ultimately, they said, what it comes down to is what the person seeing or experiencing the art themselves sees in it, and that’s the most important thing. 

The Artists-in-Residence will have an exhibition coming up in 2024, showcasing their new work. For more information, visit: https://www.bdac.org/artist-residency.