This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A Christmas tradition in downtown Salt Lake City, candy-decorated windows in the classic ZCMI facade, might be making a comeback.
Macy's at City Creek Center is calling for artists to submit proposals to decorate the store windows on Salt Lake City's Main Street, in the restored iron ZCMI facade on the Macy's store's west side.
Chad Young, visual manager for the City Creek Macy's, said Tuesday that the store is gauging interest for bringing back the "candy windows" — which last graced Main Street in 2007, before construction began on the LDS Church-owned complex.
The call for entries — posted, among other places, on the Utah Arts Festival's Facebook page — says six artists will be chosen, each decorating one window display that's 9 feet wide, 8 feet deep and 12 feet high. The designs should reflect local holiday traditions, follow the Macy's theme of "The Heart of the Holidays," and be made out of candy. Deadline for submissions is Wednesday, Aug. 15.
The selected artists will create and install the window displays. Macy's will buy the necessary supplies, within reason, and promote the artist's biography and website as part of the display.
As of Tuesday, Young said he had received no submissions. For many Utahns, the unveiling of the ZCMI windows on the Friday after Thanksgiving was part of their holiday tradition going back to 1972.
"We used to take the grandkids to see the lights at Temple Square, and we made sure we saw those windows," said retired advertising executive Bruce Bell.
Sarinda Jones, a Salt Lake City glass artist, grew up in Bountiful, and her family made a trip to see the windows every Christmas season. "I just remember it being bigger than life and very whimsical," Jones said.