Draper Visual Arts Foundation is holding its annual Art in the Barn art show and sale Aug.15 and 16 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Day Dairy Barn, 1166 E. Pioneer Road. Art in the Barn provides a unique opportunity for Utah artists to display their work and mingle with prospective buyers. This year, approximately 55 artists are participating.

Painter and longtime Draper Visual Arts Foundation board member Deborah Shurtleff said, “Art in the Barn is a community event in which we showcase local artists in different genres such as painting, pottery and photography, all of the fine arts. It’s celebration of art in our community.”

“It’s growing every year,” she added. Artists display their work both in the Day Barn and in tents set up just outside. The event includes food trucks, live music and an art activity for kids. “We want to educate and encourage young people to show them what they can do,” Shurtleff said. “It’s a great way to bring people together.”

Art in the Barn is also an opportunity for artists to connect with potential buyers. “We don’t just show, we sell,” Shurtleff said, stating that making art is both a passion and a livelihood for some. “It can be good to support artists.” 

Art in the Barn is just one of the ways in which Draper Visual Arts Foundation helps to conserve, promote and celebrate art in Draper. Founded by three retired school teachers in 1993, the nonprofit organization has commissioned works of art for public display in addition to caring for the Reid and Willda Beck Art Collection and sponsoring the annual Art Scholar Competition for high school seniors.

For more information about Draper Visual Arts Foundation and Art in the Barn, visit www.drapervisualartsfoundation.org/.

Members of the public browse the art work for sale at Draper Visual Arts Foundation’s Art in the Barn event held at the Day Dairy Barn. (Photo by Deborah Shurtleff)