One gathers the Arts Council of Park City and Summit County, bless their earnest hearts, are attempting to inject some life into the pre-Sundance lull. The snow globe stroll along Main Street, while conceptually charming, felt tragically pedestrian, a hunt for whimsy amongst the designer boutiques. Six 'decked-out' retired gondola cabins in Canyons Village—a desperate attempt at alpine chic, I suspect. One hopes the artistry extended beyond the baubles. The Friday gallery stroll, predictably, drew a crush, a sea of gallery white punctuated by the occasional statement coat. One spotted Kendall Kelly, the Arts Council's marketing manager, effusively detailing the festivities on KPCW’s ‘Local News Hour’ – a captive audience, naturally.
The Noon Year’s Eve parties at the Park City Library and Kimball Art Center are…well, aimed at a demographic remarkably removed from the après-ski set. Thirty-five dollars for a child to craft a picture frame? A staggering sum, even by Park City standards. One assumes the funds will be directed towards further KPCW underwriting, a symbiotic relationship if ever there was one. The entire affair feels…contained. A curated experience, lacking a certain frisson of genuine spontaneity. The Park City Gallery Association appears to be holding firm, however. Attend, but perhaps send a check and remain comfortably insulated.