The Utah Museum of Fine Arts (UMFA) presents a thought-provoking, conversation-starting, socially relevant exhibition in the museum’s interactive ACME Lab space this spring.
Alejandro Magallanes, Mexico, image courtesy of the artist.
“The International Tolerance Project: Promoting Dialogue Through Design,” on view Jan.17 through June 23, features more than 20 artworks by international designers that illustrate the power of visual communication and encourage community dialogue around the unifying theme of tolerance. Featured posters were selected from a larger traveling exhibition, “TOLERANCE,” orchestrated by New York-based designer/illustrator Mirko Ilić. An artist talk with Ilić will be held at the UMFA on Wednesday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m. The UMFA exhibition is the centerpiece of a citywide display of “TOLERANCE” posters on view throughout spring 2019 coordinated by Salt Lake City-based artist Dallas Graham.
Together, the artists and curators hope to inspire viewers to consider their individual and collective roles in working toward a more accepting and understanding global society. The exhibition presents tolerance of others as a starting point toward the broader goal of acceptance.
Citywide displays of “TOLERANCE” posters involve a number of cultural and civic organizations and take a variety of forms. Participating organizations include AIGA Salt Lake, Pioneer Park Coalition, KRCL, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Co., Salt Lake County Arts and Culture, The BLOCKS, Salt Lake County Library, Salt Lake City Public Library-Main Library, Salt Lake Film Society, SB Dance, Ballet West and Temporary Museum of Permanent Change. A map of all “TOLERANCE”-related exhibitions in Salt Lake City can be found at participating organizations.
Bob Gill, USA, image courtesy of the artist.
“TOLERANCE” has traveled to 18 countries around the world, including most recently South Africa, where the exhibition was on view at the Constitution Hill, now used as a museum, in Johannesburg, the infamous prison where Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and other notable activists were once imprisoned.
The UMFA exhibition is curated by the museum’s director of education and engagement Jorge Rojas, ACME coordinator Emily Izzo and UMFA graphic designers Jodi Patterson and Meredith Bunsawat. Graham, creator of The Red Fred Project, a national nonprofit publishing company, is the local liaison with Ilić.
This exhibition and ACME Lab is made possible, in part, by a generous gift from The JoAnne L. Shrontz Family Foundation.
As always, museum admission is free for U students, staff and faculty with the presentation of a UCard, thanks to Arts Pass.