Way back in 1931, art-savvy Alta Rawlins Jensen founded the Art Barn Association – a posh crew that ultimately became the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOCA). Nestled in a 1904 Victorian mansion, the building got a makeover in 1978, courtesy of Edward Joe Ruben, Fowler Ferguson Kingston Ruben, the talented architect trio. The gallery spaces were turned into intriguing, rotating exhibits covering three floors and six offbeat spaces. Rumors fly that painting maestro Vincent van Gogh stopped by in the 1940s, but no proof has surfaced yet.
Flash-forward to today, where UMOCA champions local art heroes, teaming up with the Jarvis and Constance Doctorow Family for the biannual Catherine Doctorow Prize for Contemporary Painting. They've also got a vast array of educational and community projects, including neighborhood events, workshops, and Community Painting Parties since 2015, offering high school arts enthusiasts their moment in the spotlight.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Friendly Jane
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