This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
In many ways, our world seems more discordant and hostile every day.
Our national political discourse has devolved into a series of puerile quarrels, personal attacks and reckless decision-making. We see violence and cruelty in national and local news stories. Kids are abused. Good Samaritans who stand up for the weak are attacked and killed. An opioid scourge robs people of self-determination or any sense of dignity. Desperate people commit desperate and stupid crimes. And wealthy suburbanites boo the homeless when they plead for patience and understanding.
Sometimes it's easy to lose hope for the future of humanity.
But even in the midst of a daunting national and local narrative, there are signs of hope. One of our community's greatest assets is art. And June kicks off a summer filled with opportunities for members of the community to celebrate art and its transcendent ability to motivate and inspire.
The Utah Arts Festival will be held in Salt Lake City's civic campus June 22-25. The 2017 theme, United in Art, resonates at a time and in an environment where people are struggling to find a place. As a cornerstone of supporting diversity, the festival welcomes the Pedrito Martinez Group from Cuba. This wouldn't have been imaginable even five years ago.
The festival is also presenting awards to two talented women with commissions in classical music and dance. It will usher in the next promising generation of Utah's youth artists through the high school art exhibition at the main library, Gina Bachauer Medalist teenage piano masters and dozens of local and emerging performing artists.
In July, the Salt Lake City Arts Council will host the 30th season of the Twilight Concert Series in Pioneer Park, bringing tens of thousands of diverse audience members to historic Pioneer Park. Twilight helps to change the dynamic in the Pioneer Park and the larger neighborhood through the power of music. It also creates a narrative about Salt Lake City as an up-and-coming urban center that brings people together. Standing in Pioneer Park surrounded by thousands of people on a summer evening all sharing in music is a magical experience. One that stands in stark contrast to the harsh rhetoric and pettiness that seems to dominate our political world.
Every Saturday through October, Pioneer Park is transformed into one of Utah's most dynamic and diverse experiences with the Downtown Farmers Market. The market includes 60 to 80 Utah artists every week on the south side of Pioneer Park and free concerts run every week with local bands.
The diversity of the market is reflected not just in the music and artistic offerings but also in the customers and farmers. Farmers and ranchers at the market represent 26 of Utah's 29 counties, coupling rural and urban interests in a meaningful and deliberate way. The market creates a palpable sense of community, where shoppers build relationships with the people who grow their food. And it would be hard to find a more diverse collection of prepared food vendors in Utah with immigrants from Africa, Europe, Central American, South America, Asia and the Caribbean all selling foods native to their home countries. Walking down the food fairway in the center of Pioneer Park on a Saturday is a true celebration of the diverse and amazing cultures that make up our world and community.
Every Sunday morning at 9:30, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs a free concert and broadcast on Temple Square. Regardless of your religious belief, it's hard not to be inspired by the talent and commitment of this volunteer choir as more than 300 voices are raised in unifying song. And the gardens at Temple Square are one of downtown's greatest and often under-appreciated assets.
It's easy to be discouraged by the challenges we face as a community, country and world. Our collective arts movement is about breaking geographical and generational boundaries, strengthening and supporting new work, encouraging access and promoting diversity and championing a new generation of art fans.
This summer I invite you to take a few minutes to enjoy some of downtown's artistic and cultural events and amenities that are bringing people together, celebrating diversity and building community. These and many other artistic offerings throughout our city and state can help to restore your sense of hope and faith in humanity.
Jason Mathis is a lifelong resident of Salt Lake City and a longtime leader in Utah's nonprofit community. His professional work spans two decades in urban development, health care and tourism. Since 2008, Jason has served as executive director of Salt Lake City's Downtown Alliance.