Salt Lake residents might best recognize The Art Barn as the historic name for what is now known as Finch Lane Gallery. Originally built in the 1930s it was the home of the Salt Lake Art Center (now Utah Museum of Contemporary Art) until the 1970s. The space was then acquired by the city to house the Salt Lake City Arts CouncilAlthough the gallery sometimes offers art classes like watercolor or jewelry making, Kandace Steadman, visual arts program manager, says "Our primary purpose is to exhibit art."

But it's not just any art, Finch Lane Gallery specifically looks for Utah artists.

Beginning March 14, and running through May 2, Finch Lane is exhibiting paintings, ceramics, and writings by Annie Boyer, Jeffrey Hale, Barbara Ellard, and writings by Salt Lake Community College Community Writing Center. 

Annie Boyer


As with most art, Boyer's canvases are embedded with a deeper meaning than first meets the eye. It's no surprise her exhibition is titled Depth—a lot of thought goes into her work. Relying solely on air, paint and water to create her artwork, these elements are combined to make a statement about control and trust. She will often begin with a base of acrylic paint and once dry add water, leaving the result out of her power. For Boyer, this is "a metaphor for our internal psychological conditions. 

Jeffrey Hale


A primarily self-taught artist, Hale's paintings add a twist to what you might think of when you hear the term portrait artist.

An avid people-watcher, Hale spends time with his subjects—not only to visually represent them but to read the feeling and emotion of the person sitting in front of him. "His intention is not to make an exact replica," Steadman says. "It is more to capture the essence of the sitter." Hale's use of high contrast colors and raw, basic shapes are his way of displaying this to the viewer. 

Barbara Ellard


Taking ceramics into a more sculptural sphere, Ellard's work is recognizable by it's asymmetric and unique shapes.

Often she will add silver leaf to enhance the aesthetics of each piece. For Ellard, ceramics is about exploration and development. "The contrast between the raw medium (soft, sensuous  and malleable) and the finished fired pieces is extreme," she says. "Taking a piece through that process can be very gratifying since there is so much room for error in its completion."

Perspectives on Race: The Race Card Project

SLCC Writing Center Center began this project inspired by NPR host Michelle Norris' exploration of race around the country. Students began by creating a six-word sentence expressing their thoughts on race and then expanded it to a 600-word essay, poem or narrative.

Viewers can read excerpts from some of these pieces and contribute their own six-word sentence to this exhibit's wall. 

Finch Lane Gallery is located at 1320 East 100 South, SLC