Gratitude Practice 2021 Day 358: “Imagine” mural by Traci O’Very Covey located downtown Salt Lake City
Grateful to find myself in downtown Salt Lake City for a bit this afternoon as part of a much needed day off. Grateful to have discovered this amazing mural carefully tucked away on the south side of the Eccles theater. Took a moment to walk up close then step back again all the while squinting my eyes and tilting my head to ensure I really soaked it in. The pandemic has really changed how people engage with space and this tiny block of downtown was hauntingly peaceful, mostly empty and so very different from the four walls of our happy home sanctuary. Grateful for a moment to pause and appreciate and enjoy not just a new view point of my favorite city but time to experience this creation which I may not have done had the speed and tempo of normal life been in place.
Grateful for talented artists who use big bold splashes of colors, shapes, design and symbols to communicate the arts scene in my hometown. Our fair city has an impressive growing collection of murals and I am always delighted to discover a new one. Standing in front of this mural, I looked around and saw a mix of old and new construction, a handful of restaurants, a few empty loading docks, the entrance to a multilevel parking garage and carefully design ally that runs between the doors of our most grand professional theater and a few well loved office buildings. So much design, both form and function, and a determined gathering space, sadly empty, all squished inside the interior of one city block and cleverly anchored by this work of art. Just imagine...all of the people, all of the meetings, all of the conversations, all of connections, all of the creative pitches, and ideas all shared and expressed inside this tiny space. All of those connections bouncing from one brick wall to another. Just imagine.
Grateful to have stumbled upon this tiny treasure today and inspired by the hope of the lively mix of three of my favorite things: performing arts, food and community and systematically swarming in and around this space. Grateful for our visionary Arts Council and their dedication to funding, promoting and advocating for arts and artists within and throughout our community.