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The Art Around the Corner Foundation (AACF) invites you to join us in
marking 21 years of public art installations in St. George, Utah. AACF is a
registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the
arts, enriching the community, and bringing fine art to the heart of historic
St. George.

Initially known as the Dixie Arts Foundation, and later the Pioneer Center
for the Arts, AACF was originally formed in 1988. Our flagship project is
the Outdoor Sculpture Gallery, a collection of sculptures from nationally
renowned artists, that can be enjoyed by residents and visitors year-round,
free of charge. All sculptures are available for sale or lease, with new
exhibitions installed annually.

Throughout our history, the Art Around the Corner Foundation has also been
instrumental in such projects as the restoration of the Opera House, the
construction of the St. George Art Museum and Social Hall, the creation of
murals on several public buildings, and the conversion of City utility boxes
into works of art. While curating an exciting exhibit each year, AACF has
brokered sales in excess of $1,000,000.

There’s a new 12-foot-long metal dragon in St. George.

Its eyes are made from kitchen utensils. Its belly, two stop signs. The scales that cover its wings, horns and everywhere else come from the Salt Lake City police station’s evidence room.

“All those license plates you see on that dragon have been confiscated by the police,” Utah County artist Deveren B. Farley said. “Every five to six months, they’ll call me up and say, ‘Hey, Deveren, we got another load for you.’”

He recently installed this larger-than-life sculpture in Town Square Park as part of the annual Art Around the Corner event. It’s an outdoor gallery that features dozens of pieces around St. George starting April 12.

The idea is to support Utah creators by marketing their work, while bringing art to the masses.

“Public art is so important,” Art Around the Corner Foundation Chair Heather Atkin said. “It lets people who maybe wouldn’t have access to fine art have that access on a daily basis.”

This year’s event includes 38 pieces by artists from across Utah and as far away as Louisiana and British Columbia. The creators get a small stipend to lend the pieces to the city for one year, and the community gets to enjoy the thought-provoking view.

“It’s a way for people not only to interact differently with the world, but see the world through a different perspective,” Atkin said.

See the full article on KUER

Join us Saturday, April 12 at Town Square.
From 10 AM – 12 PM in St. George, UT

CALL FOR ENTRIES

Artists – it’s time to submit your work to be considered for the 2025-26 Outdoor Sculpture Gallery! Step one is to complete the online application. You may submit up to two pieces; a separate entry fee is required for each. All the details are here. Entries must be submitted no later than October 31, 2024.

Artist Spotlight – Jonathan Morgan

Jonathan Morgan’s art is about bringing awareness to the human condition. He believes that often, we misinterpret the world because we rely too much on our eyes, neglecting the other senses. This is particularly true in how we view and interpret art. By relying too much on our eyes, we can miss the full sensory experience of what a work of art offers to the mind and the heart. Ultimately, what informs his art is the ardent belief that life is richer when we orient away from ourselves and focus on others. When we connect with and learn from each other, we finally see the grandeur of the world with eyes wide open. 

Board Member Spotlight

Bill McMurrin, AACF Board Member

Bill is a practicing architect whose career started in Los Angeles, CA before working in St. George for the past 30 years. He attended California State University, Northridge, where he received a BA degree and he holds a professional graduate degree in architecture from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He is a principle in the firm MESA Consulting Architects in St. George. Bill has served on several committees for cities in Washington County tasked with development issues and community beautification. He also is a board member of two non-profit conservation organizations engaged in the protection of open lands in Southern Utah and in land conservation for wildlife in the West centered around Yellowstone National Park. Bill’s interest in the arts and how the arts can positively affect communities has brought him to Art Around the Corner.