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Neil Hadlock gets

his due

With installations at Energy Solutions Arena, IBM Plaza and Abravanel Hall, no other sculptor dominates Salt Lake City's public spaces like Utah's Neil Hadlock. "Maran," a massive bronze work that dominates the north end of Abravanel Hall, is a case in point, and best expressed by the artist himself. "It rests on two small points that are no wider than an inch, creating tension and gracefulness," Hadlock said. That's a quote from press materials for his upcoming exhibit, spanning four decades and appropriately titled "Neil Hadlock: 1990 to Now." Showcasing Hadlock's prints, sculpture work and public pieces, this is a comprehensive look at one of Utah's true artistic legends. A native of St. Anthony, Idaho, Hadlock developed an interest in art by way of the metal and paint he saw as part of potato digging equipment growing up, according to his artist's bio written by Frank McEntire, who also curates this show. His student years during the Vietnam era saw him forsake the trend of literal meaning in art for themes and contexts emphasizing form, color, structure and texture instead. Even today, with his work in collections worldwide, McEntire notes that Hadlock remains true to the materials that first made him fall in love with art. In Hadlock's hands, bronze, iron, stone, clay, pigments and graphite take on timeless qualities to remind us that art can approach the timeless qualities of Earth itself.

When • May 18-July 6, with opening reception May 18, 6-9 p.m.

Where • Nox Contemporary, 440 S. 400 West, Suite H

Info • Call 801-289-6269 or visit http://www.noxcontemporary.com for more information.

Christensen and

Chun at Art Barn

The small sculpture installations of Brian Christensen and rich, expressionist oil paints of Oonju Chun opened May 4 at the Art Barn of Finch Lane Gallery. That's just in time for the spring season, when art mavens come out from winter hibernation in true force. Christensen's work of two small installations, plus pedestal and wall sculptures, speak to what he calls the "minimal space between conscious and subconscious perception," playing on the way the brain processes visual stimuli at all levels, from information to hallucination. Chun, who earned her BFA from the University of Utah, paints at an instinctual level, but also with origins attuned to her Korean heritage. "When I walk up to a blank canvas, what happens is a spontaneous visual reaction with each stroke of line or color," she states in press materials. "I relinquish the responsibility to create meaning."

When • Through June 15, with Gallery Stroll exhibits May 18 and June 15, 6-9 p.m.

Where • Art Barn at Finch Lane Gallery, 54 Finch Lane, Salt Lake City.

Info • Free. Call 801-596-5000 or visit http://www.slcgov.com/arts for more information.

'300 Plates' by 100 artists

Art Access/VSA Utah's "300 Plates" annual fundraiser is one of the most anticipated art events of the spring season in Salt Lake City, both for the quality and sheer breadth of art on display. This year's event, the gallery's 10th, features more art than you can possibly absorb in one visit. True to its namesake, this is 300 works — all on 11-by-10-inch plates of Plexiglas, aluminum or galvanized steel — by some 100 participating artists. Each is numbered 50 to 350, denoting the range of price for which they'll be sold during the gallery's May 17 fundraising event, 6-9 p.m. Until then, you can take in each and every one May 14-17. Nathan Florence, Steven K. Sheffield, Susan N. Jarvis, Royden Card and Erin W. Berrett are but a few artists with work on display.

When • May 14-17, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. with artists' reception May 18, 6 to 9 p.m.

Where • Art Access/VSA Utah, 230 S. 500 West No. 125, Salt Lake City

Info • $25 registration fee for May 17 fundraising event through May 13, or $35 at the door. Free for preview exhibit. Call 801-328-0703 or visit http://www.accessart.org for more information.

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