On February 16th DRAW Inc. is teaming up with HEAL Utah to focus on something everyone is affected by, the inversion in Salt Lake. Works by Elisabeth Bunker, a local oil painter, will be showcased to connect the community to the issue at hand. Located in the avenues, DRAW Inc. is a gallery that educates the community on disadvantaged and under-served communities through art.
Laura Schmidt, Outreach Director at HEAL Utah tells us, “We are excited to co-host the “Breathe” gallery exhibit and bring more attention to the human impacts of our local air quality. Working together with DRAW, Inc, and Elizabeth Bunker, will open the event to a broad range of folks, all impacted by northern Utah’s unhealthy air quality.” HEAL Utah will also be giving out “I heart Clean Air” yard signs and Hoo-rags (circular fabric that serves as a ski gator/hat/bandana/etc.) at the event. There will also be a gas mask social media wall for guests to interact with at the gallery.
Oil painter, Elisabeth Bunker, focuses on abstract paintings of nature. Bunker also teaches at the Utah International Charter School, and holds an BFA in Painting from Metropolitan State University of Denver. “By abstracting, combining, and manipulating images, the work becomes more about my perceptions than the places or subjects themselves,” writes Bunker in her artist statement.
“This show was put together because of our featured artist Elisabeth Bunker. She is an art teacher whose work is environmentally focused,” says Melissa Fullmer, the Executive Director of DRAW Inc. “The obscured oil landscapes of Salt Lake Valley is a series that she has been working on and wanted to present during this time to encourage discussion about the air quality and its impact on us as residents–she wanted to highlight this during the legislative session. Partnering with HEAL Utah in presenting this show allows for the public to be able to ask important questions and gain insight from our environmental watchdogs about this issue.”
HEAL Utah has been hard at work at the 2018 Utah Legislative Session. They have been pushing bills like HB331 Air Pollution Mitigation Education Program, which would educate potential drivers on how they can improve air quality. HB101 Air Quality Emissions Testing Amendments would require emissions testing for diesel vehicles in counties where gasoline emissions testing is required. These are just a few of the bills HEAL Utah is supporting in the fight against the inversion in Salt Lake City, read more about the bills HEAL is supporting by HEAL’s Policy Associate Jessica Reimer here.
The opening reception will have multiple guest speakers, the artist’s discussion about her work and inspiration behind it.
DRAW Inc
752 6th Avenue, Salt Lake City, Utah 84103
Friday, Feb. 16 from 6-9pm
This is a free event, RSVP here.