To wrap up this winter I wanted to highlight local creatives, maybe warm your heart a little — or inspire you to keep on going through the cold of the last few winter weeks. Here are seven wonderful people who were nominated through my local social media followers. Utah is a funny place—sometimes we get the bad rap of being a homogenous crowd; people don’t realize that we have an abundance of uniquely individual creatives. Take a little peek into this underground community of incredibly diverse people that we are lucky to have here.
Courtney Kendrick | Writer
“A lot of people have asked ‘Why don’t you write a book?’ but the internet is my medium, just like some artists strictly use oil paint.” Courtney has been blogging since 2005. When asked ‘What’s next?’ she discussed closing the blog as a chapter of her life, and moving on to the next thing. Writing is her way of clearing her head “I go up into the foothills where it’s quiet and when I come back I’m able to write whatever needs to come out of my brain.” She often turns to walking in the mountains as a routine step before sitting down to write. “It’s one reason I haven’t left Utah, we are only a few steps away from nature; that and having so many connections to people that live here.” If the internet is Courtney’s medium, the mountains seem to be her muse.
Website: cjanekendrick.com
Jed Henry | Artist Entrepreneur
“I pitched the idea to a consultant in Tokyo, who didn’t think much of it. But I guess a couple assistants picked up some of my work, this classic Japanese styled Mario & Luigi, and flipped. He changed his mind and our first online presence went video game viral.” Jed now has a team of five people selling posters, pins, scrolls, & art subscriptions, making appearances at almost every comic book convention in the country. “I went from illustrating children’s books and hearing ‘no’ constantly from my editor. I realized some of these ideas weren’t bad, they just didn’t belong in children’s books.”
Website: ukiyoeheroes.com
Emma Hardyman | Singer/Songwriter
“This new album is about finding beauty in some of our most horrible moments. I’ve taken a melody that has lyrics about an unattractive moment in my life and brought emphasis to that. I think we’ve heard about the obvious beauty in people’s life. I want to look beyond that now.” Emma, who’s music goes by “Little Moon” releases an album this month. “I used to be so terrified of performing. My dad, who also is a musician, told me to think of it as practice. That’s helped me so much to be more comfortable and make it less about me, but about sharing something.”
Instagram: @little.moon.music
Jean Michelle | Collector & Species Specialist
“Beetles have always been fascinating to me, the variety, & the way their limbs move. Since then that fascination has grown, they have identified over three hundred and sixty thousand species of beetles alone. There are more different kinds of beetles than anything in the world. ‘It’s the survival of the fittest’— the ability to adapt to your environment.” Jean Michelle’s shop is incredible, he expressed his hesitation in switching from a furniture shop, to his most cherished hobby. “I had no idea who the customer would be here in Utah, it’s been surprising to connect to so many different types of people.” Jean Michelle, and his wife now run a successful business for unconventional framed art, carrying custom framed species, fossils, skeletons, & more.
Store Address: 92 West Center Street Midvale, UT 84047
Nanette Amis | Art Marketer/Representer
“I’ve tried my hand at a lot of different crafts knitting, cooking, sewing, stitchery… I constantly am in the middle of a project.” Nanette is the owner of Utah Art Market, which has been running for twenty five years. “It started with 20 friends and a few referrals once a year in the spring. I’d clear out my whole house and fill it with people’s art to sell. It’s grown since then to four times a year and a fine art show called 1 3 5.” But Nanette also admits to the challenge of what she does. “I wish the best artists that applied all got in, but unfortunately I’ve got to be careful of what original art will sell. People have a harder time selling figure paintings and abstracts. I know the audience and who is buying.” You can tell Nanette has a very sensitive heart, her home is filled with original paintings and other forms of beautiful unique crafts. “My biggest motivator is helping artists create a living. My goal is to get younger people hooked on buying smaller art. Then as they follow an artist and watch them grow they will continue to support our local artists.”
Website: utahartmarket.com
Matt Eckelmann | Chef
“My mom and dad are both great cooks. My mom is Italian and my dad is German, Irish, Cuban, & French. So even though Italian is the dominant culture in my home, I was exposed to a diverse cuisine as a child. My mom started teaching me how to cook at a young age— It took off from there. Matt grew up with a disease that required complete reconstructive surgery on his legs when he was a teenager. “I had to learn how to walk again, I was cooped up in my room for almost a year. The Food Network had just started coming out. I was mesmerized by it.” During our interview, Matt mapped out his plan for three dishes on the blackboard wall in his kitchen— even down to the plating and presentation. He says, “I love bringing ingredients together that people wouldn’t expect to go together.” He was right, I didn’t anticipate seared duck with black sesame charcoal pancakes, carrot pannacotta, and a pickled beet yogurt parfait to be delicious— but I must admit, I was pleasantly surprised.
Hilary Wolfley | Dancer & Choreographer
“My medium is my body; logistically it changes things. I just turned thirty, that’s very different than my body was when it was twenty. I’ve had a son, my body has new knowledge and therefore different ways of being in the world.” Hilary is currently pursuing an MFA in Dance in Virginia, New York, and Germany. She goes abroad during summers and teaches dance at a local university during the academic year. “I’ve often been turning to psychology and philosophy for inspiration in my choreography— creating movement based on ideas or ways of thinking.” Hilary began dancing, like most ballerinas, at a very young age. She describes her connection to the art form as freeing, while simultaneously exhausting. “There is something about being in constant motion that’s symbolic of life. It’s a way to celebrate and explore vitality, even when we’re resting or sleeping there are things that flow through us, our organs are in motion.”
Instagram: @hilarywolfley