A Cultural Gateway to Southern Utah’s Thriving Art Scene

IVINS, UTAH (September 27, 2024) – The Kayenta Art Village will once again become a crossroads of creativity and culture as it hosts the Art in Kayenta Festival from October 11-13, 2024. This free event is poised to draw art enthusiasts from across the country, offering a unique opportunity to experience Southern Utah’s burgeoning art scene against the backdrop of its stunning red rock landscape. The festival runs 10am until 5pm daily. 

A Showcase of Diverse Talent

This year’s festival boasts an impressive lineup of over 50 juried artists, representing a wide spectrum of artistic disciplines, including  sculpture, painting, jewelry, ceramics, wood, metal, and other media. Visitors can admire exquisite ceramics crafted in New Mexico and impressive bronze sculptures from Arizona. The collection also features stunning jewelry pieces originating from California and fine woodworking from Colorado. Art enthusiasts will find works from various other states, including Washington, Wyoming, and additional pieces from Arizona. Of course, our beautiful state of Utah, which hosts this artistic showcase, is well-represented. 

A comprehensive list of artists can be found at KayentaArts.org.

Community-Wide Participation

In a testament to the community’s commitment to the arts, all art galleries and shops within the Kayenta Art Village are participating in the festival. This full-scale involvement transforms the entire village into an expansive arts experience.

Visitors will find every corner of Kayenta buzzing with artistic energy. From festival booths to our permanent galleries and shops, the entire village becomes a celebration of creativity. It’s a unique opportunity to explore a wide range of art in a singular, beautiful location.

More Than Just Art

The Art in Kayenta Festival goes beyond visual arts, offering a comprehensive cultural experience:

• Culinary Journey: Kayenta Art Village’s own Xetava and Rusted Cactus as well as other food vendors like  Karma Grayman’s Indian Tacos Papa’s Got Jerk, Desert Grounds Coffee and more. 
• Musical Showcase: Live performances by Runaway Fire, Eldersister, Crystal Bridges and other local and regional acts.
• Interactive Experiences: Opportunities for visitors to engage in the interactive art piece “Utopian Hotline”, and conversations with artists, fostering a deeper connection with the creative process.

Sneak Peek: Utopian Hotline

New for 2024, the festival offers an exclusive sneak peek of Utopian Hotline, by New York-based company Theater Mitu, that promises to captivate and engage visitors in an unprecedented way.

Part vinyl recording and part live performance, Utopian Hotline uses real voicemails left on a public hotline and to create a moment of community, while inviting audience members around a communal table to re-imagine our shared future. “It is a multidisciplinary cloud ride to the stars and back,” -writes The Front Row Center.

This preview of Utopian Hotline, an interactive installation inspired by NASA’s Golden Record  invites participants to imagine a better future together. It’s a tantalizing introduction to a larger experience that challenges perceptions and sparks imagination.         

While the full Utopian Hotline experience, an hour-long performance, will be available October 17-20, this sneak peek offers a unique opportunity for Art in Kayenta attendees to be among the first to engage with this innovative project. “We hope this preview will leave visitors intrigued and eager for the full experience in the future,” adds Miranda Wright Executive Director of Center for the Arts at Kayenta. 

A Gateway to Southern Utah’s Wonders

The festival serves as an ideal starting point for visitors to explore the broader wonders of Southern Utah. “The quality of art and creative expression on display at the Festival, combined with the Art Village setting and the backdrop of Ivins’ Red mountain and cliffs makes for an extraordinary experience.” states Chairman of the Board of Kayenta Arts Foundation, Laurel Bryant. From the majestic Zion National Park to the vibrant arts scene in St. George, October is the perfect time to experience the full spectrum of Southern Utah’s natural and cultural treasures.

Art in Kayenta is generously sponsored by Mercedes Benz of St. George, Voyager Wealth Advisors, and the Kayenta Art Village. 

The Art in Kayenta Festival runs Friday-Sunday, October 11-13, 2024, 10:00a-5:00p daily at the Kayenta Art Village in Ivins, Utah. Admission is free. For more information, including a full list of participating artists and performers, visit www.kayentaarts.org or contact Marketing at [email protected].

About Center for the Arts at Kayenta Center for the Arts at Kayenta (CFAK), built by the community through Kayenta Arts Foundation, whose mission it is to develop and create an environment that fosters diverse artistic endeavors for educational and enrichment purposes, hosts over 50 events and approximately 120 performances annually. These span theater, music, dance, storytelling, and lectures, serving audiences in Washington County and the American Southwest.  

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