News/Events

"Spring Into Sonata" Gallery for the Joint Exhibition featuring Diane Cliff and Christopher McKellar, now through the end of May!

Award winning Utah artist Diane Cliff’s elegant landscapes, contemporary and figurative paintings and mixed media art will be on display during the month of May.  The contemporary paintings of Diane Cliff will be showing at Sonata Gallery daily during the month of May.

Christopher McKellar paintings are “Music to the Eyes” and are on display daily.

Salt Lake City, Utah – January 20, 2009
There’s a new art gallery in town and its name is Sonata! The Sonata Gallery, located at 1106 East 4500 South, features the visual artworks of “crossover” artists talented in more than one discipline—like musicians who paint. The grand opening event is scheduled for Valentine’s Day from 4pm - 9 pm and runs through March 14, 2009.

The grand opening exhibitor, Christopher McKellar, is already in the news for resigning his position of 33 years as principal violist for the Utah Symphony.  The artist formerly known as Principal is still a viola section player for the Symphony, but has newfound time to paint. His harmoniously colorful landscapes are loved and collected for their vibrant colors. His wilderness scenes resonate of his adventures on foot through the western United States and Europe. “I am thrilled to have been selected as opening exhibitor for this wonderfully fresh concept in Salt Lake art spaces,” says McKellar.

The concept behind Sonata Gallery was conceived in 2008 by founder and entrepreneur Billie Crocker. She knew that artists could be talented in more than one medium. After all, Michelangelo and Manet did it. Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood, Joni Mitchell and David Bowie do it. Sometimes extremely right-brained people can cross over from one art medium to another with great success. Michelangelo was a brilliant poet. Manet married his piano teacher who inspired many of his masterpieces. Grammy award-winning musician Joni Mitchell thinks of herself first as a painter and music as merely a hobby.

Crossing over, say, from music to art may seem inconceivable to many. But for some, it’s only natural. “Musicians who paint, for instance, can create artworks that are wonderfully pleasing to the eye,” says Crocker. “The right brain can become so conditioned from playing music that visual art may become a brilliant accompaniment. The result can be music to the eyes,” Crocker explains.

Crocker imagined that Utah, home to many musicians and other performing artists, may have many “crossover” artists whose visual arts deserve to be displayed. Crocker already owned the ideal space to showcase the unique art. She purchased the pioneer home which houses the gallery in 2002. The building’s history is as colorful as the paintings on the walls. Built in 1884 and once the home of “wife number two” of polygamist Edward Pugh, the home has seen renovations, but has much of its original character intact.

Proceeds from the grand opening event benefit the Mundi Project which provides pianos for less fortunate children along the Wasatch Front. Philanthropy is an important part of Sonata Gallery’s mission. Proceeds from future exhibits, art sales, and gallery events will benefit selected local art charities. For more information about Sonata Gallery and the current exhibition, go to www.sonatagallery.com or call  (801) 747-2999 .