Celebration of the Hand: Lya Yang

Craft Lake City is pleased to announce Celebration of the Hand: Lya Yang, an outdoor exhibition showcasing 14 photographs by local artist Lya Yang. The streetside display will be on view along Broadway (300 S.) between 200 West and 200 East in downtown Salt Lake City now through March 2021. A free public Lunch & Learn virtual event will be hosted by the artist and Craft Lake City on Wed., Feb. 24 at noon.

In Celebration of the Hand: Lya Yang, the artist shares photographs of individuals wearing fragmented mirror masks against diverse Utah landscapes. The collection of work evolved from a previous project titled Mirror Helmet, in which a block-formed headpiece constructed from mirrors was photographed to distort and reflect different surroundings. In this new variation, the mirrored masks are more compact and highly fractured, creating meaning from collective fragments rather than reflecting a specific scene. The images explore themes of place, identity and anonymity, and seek to capture the beauty found in imperfection.

Informed by activist Jane Jacobs’ fascination with self-organized urbanism, Celebration of the Hand is a seasonal exhibition series designed to enhance and reflect Salt Lake City’s cultural district through the work of local artists. The exhibitions feature inspiring artwork meant to engage passersby with ideas that matter, and provide the local artisan community with a venue to showcase their talent and contribute to the city’s cultural enhancement. The plakats are installed adjacent to the sidewalks in downtown Salt Lake City, and are located on the North and South sides of Broadway (300 South) between 200 West and 200 East. The exhibit is open to the public 24 hours a day 7 days a week, and is free of charge.

The Celebration of the Hand series is curated and organized by Craft Lake City. This project is supported in part by The Center for the Living City and The Temporary Museum of Permanent Change.

For more information, please visit craftlakecity.com or lyayang.com.