Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Group 4 ~ Identity





Just as Paris is recognized by its Eiffel Tower, Egypt the Great Pyramids and Rome by the Colosseum, Salt Lake City can easily be identified by a picture of Temple Square. The temple in particular has become iconic. For tourists, the temple is a must-see. In fact, when I typed Salt Lake City into the Google search engine, the first hit, after the map, was a picture of the Salt Lake temple. For tourists, What many tourists don't realize, however, is exactly what the temple symbolizes and the deeper identity it gives Salt Lake City.
True, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has 134 currently operating temples with 21 others being built, spread out over 46 countries around the world, but this temple stands apart from the rest. Yes, like others it is a sacred place of worship where worthy members go to perform sacred ordinances, but the Salt Lake temple has come to mean something even to those who are not permitted to enter its hallowed halls. It is a symbol of rich history and the beauty of hard work.

Utah, more specifically Salt Lake City, was founded by the Mormon pioneers in the mid 1800s. Led by Brigham Young, the faithful saints were looking for a refuge from the stroms of persecution they experienced from the United States government and their fellow Americans. The Salt Lake Valley was protected by the majestic mountains surrounding it and the fact that it was several hundred miles west of so-called civilization. Here, the group settled. (Utah now celebrates Pioneer Day each year on the 24th of July in remembrance of their pioneer heritage, showing gratitude that "This is the place.")

Prophet and then Governor, Brigham Young wanted his people to learn the value of working hard and working together. To remind them of these principles, he chose the symbol of the Deseret honey bee. Honey bees not only labor individually, but as a hive they work together extensively for the benefit of all. (When the Mormon settlers applied for statehood, they suggested the name Deseret, but when Utah later became a state it was named instead for the local Ute Indian tribe.) The Mormon settlers worked hard building up their city. The city's grid system itself is designed around the temple, which serves as its center point.

It took forty years to build the temple. At its completion, the people had a magnificent visual representation of their labor and sacrifice. Today Salt Lake City remains the headquarters for the Church. Surrounding the temple are the grounds and plaza area, Visitors' Centers, the Tabernacle, Assembly Hall, Joseph Smith Memorial Building, and the Conference Center. Brigham Young's two houses, the Beehive House and the Lion House, are just up the road. History is an integral part of Salt Lake City's identity, and the temple perfectly captures the values and beauty at the core of the city.

Monday, September 27, 2010

The Capitol in Utah's Capital - Group 8

Josh Southwick, Sami Crouch, Adam Jones,
Michael May, Jackson Myrick, Hector Zumaeta



Looking out across Salt Lake City, there is one place that catches your eye from almost anywhere – the Capitol building. It is the epitome of what a landmark should be: easily located, used as a point of reference, and, above all, a central component of the city itself. The significance it carries cannot simply be stated as being the meetinghouse of our state’s representatives, but that it is a key part of Salt Lake City and Utah as a whole.

The Capitol stands atop a lush, green hill above the Avenues with the distinct background of the trademark Utah mountains. The building stands out among everything around it with its unique architecture and style. There are Roman columns spaced around the entire structure, and the unmistakable government rotunda at the top gives it a unique look compared to the monotonous rectangular architecture of downtown. Outside the Capitol, there are several monuments and statues dedicated to the history of Utah. On the east, there is a monument depicting the Mormon Battalion, and on the west there is another memorial honoring the Utah veterans who died in the Vietnam War. Around back there is a wide, oval fountain in the courtyard surrounded by flowerbeds, trees, and statues of famous and influential Utahns. As you walk up the Capitol steps, you can turn around and see the entire city of Salt Lake with the distant mountain ranges forming your view of the horizon.


Through the large entry doors the Capitol's interior is revealed, which is no less stunning than its exterior. The seemingly endless view of the city is transformed into a breathtaking sight of the ornate rooms within. On the first floor, a circular opening houses paintings of every governor of Utah around its perimeter. There were also several displays scattered throughout the floor that presented some history of Utah from its first settling to gaining statehood. These exhibits were not only informative, but they provided plenty of visuals to keep observers interested.

While the first floor had its own certain feel, the upper floors were the truly impressive and memorable part of our trip. As you step up to the second floor, the entire space opens to your view and you can see all the way up to the rotunda with its painting of a cloudy blue sky and a flock of seagulls. The elaborate chandelier illuminates the murals that cover the walls leading up to the dome above. Each mural was painted to capture a moment in the life of early Utah settlers. Located in the corners are niche sculptures representing the values important to Utah’s culture, including art and science. A reception room on the second floor was given the nickname, the “Gold Room” for its extravagant art style and complex, gothic architecture. All in all, the Capitol building is equally remarkable on the inside as it is on the outside.

Utah’s Capitol building is one of those places that leaves an impression on you and is something every Utahn must visit at least once. Whether you are there as a boy scout studying the state’s history, a young couple taking photos for their wedding, a family honoring Utah war veterans, or, in our case, university students merely interested in a Salt Lake landmark, the Capitol is a destination that won’t leave you disappointed.

"Fall In Love With My Cheese"

I’m not going to lie. I didn’t expect to find something to actually be excited enough about to dedicate an entire blog to, let alone for that something to be on the first walkabout. But the Sugarhouse Farmer’s Market really impressed me.

Our group arrived promptly at three o’clock. Most people were still setting up—talking and laughing with each other and at first it was a little weird that we were the only non-vendors there. But that quickly went away as we were included in the vendor’s conversations from all sides.

I went up to his booth because he was giving out free cheese. I love every aspect of that phrase: free cheese. Cheese is my absolute favorite thing to eat and the fact that it was free just makes it that much better. Generally I feel very acutely that awkward moment in between when one sees the sample and actually gets to eat it. Then after you eat it, you always have to ask them questions, as if that will distract them from the fact that you have absolutely no intention of buying what it is they are selling. It is all just a lot of awkward effort, and I have been known to avoid sampling before because of it. It was different here though. The man at the booth, Brent, was friendly and easygoing; I didn’t have to force conversation with him. He invited me to “fall in love with his cheese.” (Which I quickly did, I ended up getting the smoked cheddar; it was delicious.)

In fact, I began to realize that everyone that we walked up to was like Brent. They were passionate about what they were selling, and more interested in telling you about it than actually getting you to buy it. To them, making friends is more important than making money, and making a difference actually means something. They want you to share in what they are passionate about, and that is what I feel the Sugarhouse District is all about. I loved it.

Written By: Stephanie Pugmire

Group 5---> Paths
Lauren, Jane, Britany, Brittney, and Chelsea

For our second walkabout, my group chose paths. The pathways that help make sense of Salt Lake City are the many sidewalks, hiking trails, roads and biking lanes that make up our city. My group spent some time hiking, walking around Red Butte Gardens, and even walking around campus. There are thousands of different pathways around campus and up the mountains surrounding us.

Since most of my group had not been through Red Butte Garden before, it was probably the best part of our walkabout. There were rows and rows of a variety of flower species lining the pathways to many of the separate garden sections. The gardens were very peaceful and well taken care of.

Most of the people we encountered were either parents walking their children around the gardens or part of the group of people that were having a party in the pavilion section of the Perfume Garden.

The next place we traveled was on a hike up through the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. Even though we were actually attempting to go someplace else, we thoroughly enjoyed getting lost and running around in a complete circle until we ended up back where we started.

Surrounding the University of Utah are thousands of pathways that lead to many different places like the dorms and the Heritage Center. Walking to and from class, inside the shuttle, and through the dining room of the HC---we are all traveling along the many paths that cover this campus.

For this walkabout, there was no need for public transportation because everywhere we went was in walking distance. We enjoyed being able to identify all of the paths that we take everyday without even knowing it.


All of the paths we encountered had three things in common:
  • Definite boundaries
Each side of the path had some sort of structure be it flowers, trees, fences, or walls, which let the traveler know where they are welcome to tread.
  • Obvious purpose
All of the paths eventually led to at least one specific destination. Though some of them were more scenic (read: winding) than others, they all lead somewhere.

  • Tailored to specific needs
Paths were obviously designed for different people for different purposes. Roads were wide and paved for automobiles, with specific lanes for cyclists. Paths that lead across were also divided so that pedestrians and cyclists could safely coexist. Paths in the gardens and the hiking trails were not always paved. Their design reflects the nature around them.

Pathways are essential to the city's organization. Without these key structural features, life would become chaotic and disorganized. We enjoyed our experience at Red Butte Gardens and learning to navigate the pathways of Salt Lake City.




For our walkabout we explored the Avenues district while experience and photographing the architecture and landscape. We tried to experience as much of the area as possible; we visited a local park and tried to take in a variety of what the district has to offer.

The Avenues district is one of Utah's largest local historic district, and one of the most beloved residential areas in the city. It's conveniently located and diverse in both its architecture and its people. The Avenues are one of the more densely packed residential areas in the city and the architecture is unique to the area. The Avenues are primarily composed of houses, but also contains other buildings such as Churches and Schools. In the past all of the Churches in the district were affiliated with the Latter Day Saints, but currently it also contains Churches of other denominations such as the Cathedral of the Madeleine, shown below.


The area attracts a diverse population due to its favorable location in terms of proximity to downtown. The streets are labeled alphabetically and range from A Street to U Street. There are various small businesses in the district, but the residential character remains its primary function. Other historic districts in the city include Capitol Hill, Central City, Temple Square, Riverton, South Temple and Fort Douglas.

Structure: The Notre Dame of Salt Lake City




Group members: Andrew Beckstrand, Annah Frisch, Natalie Meadows, Nichol Rushton, and Cason Snow.



We went to the Cathedral of the Madeline. It was amazing. The architecture was gothic in style. There were gargoyles and huge arches. There was a fountain shaped like a cross. There were shockingly beautiful stained-glass windows. There was a pastor in a white robe, and he looked at us. There was an old couple and they were praying. We saw a Holy Water basin. It was designed to be near the door so people can cleanse as they leave.




The entrances were frequently deceptive. There were many doors that would not open. We opened an extremely ominous gate, that led to nowhere. We finally found a door that would open and went in. The cathedral was brightly colored, however the lighting was very dark. They design this to use mainly natural light sources, like most gothic architecture. So it was dramatically dark.


































WATCH THIS VIDEO:



http://www.youtube.com/user/Fredericks3214?feature=mhum





Group 6- Nodes



For our second walkabout, our group visited Gallivan Plaza. Gallivan Plaza is a node, sitting between 200 and 300 South and State and Main Street. A center of transportation, the plaza serves as a focus of the city. In addition to being a large bus stop, the two major Trax lines cross there. It also sits atop a large parking structure that services the nearby businesses. Gallivan Plaza is in the center of downtown Salt Lake City, nestled between many major business buildings.

Gallivan Plaza is currently under construction. It previously had a large skating rink next to a stage and grassy sitting area. With the construction, it is just the scheduling center and the concrete plaza. Since the construction is not only noisy but it reduced the number of places to sit and interact, it may be the reason we saw so few people while were there. We saw two people who worked at the plaza setting up for some type of event. Besides them, the majority of the people were passing through or were homeless. However, when we crossed the street to the west, there were many more people sitting outside the businesses. Channel 2 News has its main office there as well. While we were taking pictures, we found a half a dozen of the staff outside playing catch with a football. Gallivan Plaza is scattered with multiple sculptures and integrated art. There is no general theme to the sculptures, however all are done by local artists.

In the center of the plaza, there is a large structure with a water bridge. (See picture)

Also, the glass on the skylights from the parking structure was etched with the digits of pi. On the west side of the plaza, close to the street, there is a torch structure from the Olympics.

Group One: Meaning around the University of Utah Campus

The University of Utah in itself is like mini city. The students, faculty, and all other people on campus have created their own community. There are several key places on the campus that hold the heart and soul of the people who go here. Each of these places has their own special meaning to the community of the University of Utah.

When Salt Lake City won the bid to host the 2002 Olympic games, it fell to University of Utah to host all of the world-class athletes that would attend. This meant that housing on campus had to basically be completely revamped. Thus, us students are lucky enough to have dorms that are less than ten years old. The dorms hold meaning to Salt Lake City in general because they stand as a reminder of the Olympics, and a time when the whole world was looking here. The dorms hold meaning as something less grand, perhaps, but very important for the students who live on campus at the University; they’re home.

The Utah Museum of Fine Arts is a very prominent place of meaning. From the outside it may look like an unappealing dank box, but once inside it is full of color and life. People go to UMFA for multiple things. Starting with the lovely burnt orange café with its lingering sent of coffee. People go here for a calm place to study or drink a cup of joe. However, the actual museum itself is one of the calmest places on campus. The noise consists of light footsteps and brains in the process of analyzing. In the museum right now is a collection called Las Artes De Mexico, which not only has vibrant colors but rich history, another reason to come to UMFA. UMFA is great for a calm serine place, coffee, history, or to analyze art; also, it is popular for students and families to spend a day bonding through an educational journey through fine art.


You can ask any student on campus where the student union is and they will be able to tell you. Why? Because it is the center of college life at the University of Utah. The Union Building is named after A. Ray. Olpin who was the president of the university. In this building you will be able to find information regarding clubs, student services, lost and found, and every discount pass imaginable. Events are scheduled daily whether it’s in the ballroom area or in conference rooms. Nearly everything you need can be found here. The Union building holds a lot of meaning for the students on campus because the whole basement is devoted to the students. A large cafeteria feeds them daily, and the break room features billiard tables, televisions, and even a bowling alley! Furthermore there is a farmers market every Thursday. The Union is the center of all activity on campus and without it the students wouldn’t have a place to hang out between their 45 minute break from physics to calculus.


Rice Eccles Stadium is located at 451 South and 1400 East in Salt Lake. Residing on the South-East side of the University of Utah Campus, Rice Eccles serves as the home of the Ute football team. On game days or nights during football season you can see the stadium from far away, packed with over 40,000 screaming fans all dressed in red. Rice Eccles today is not the same stadium it was just over a decade ago, though. When Salt Lake City got its bid for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in 1995, the old stadium, originally built in 1927, then known as Rice Stadium, was not at all ready to host the massive events of the Olympics. It was old and cracking, and simply not up to par. So, a wealthy Utah alum named Spence Eccles decided to step up and donate $10 million to upgrade the stadium. The entire stadium was demolished with the exception of the recently built south end stands immediately following the 1997 season and was ready by the time the 1998 season began. Because Spence Eccles’ and the Eccles Foundation’s generous donation, the stadium became known as Rice Eccles Stadium. Rice Eccles houses thousands of fans dressed in red ready to cheer on their Utes several weekends out of the year making it a special place and a place holding many memories for many generations of Utah fans. Rice Eccles also played host to the world by holding opening and closing ceremonies of the 2002 Olympic Winter games within its walls thus making Rice Eccles Stadium a place meaning for the thousands of people who flocked to Salt Lake City to see and participate in the 2002 Olympic Games.

The Park Building is a building of great meaning on the University of Utah campus. This massive and almost intimidating building is where the President of the University, and the other head-honchos, have their offices. The Park Building is at the head of President’s Circle, arguably one of the centers of the University of Utah. The shuttle stop at the head of the circle is a main stop to get to lower campus, or to ride it in order to return to the dorms. This is the stop you’d likely use if you had physics, writing, chemistry, or math class. The circle also encompasses a large grassy field, where lots of students rendezvous, and, more notably, Kingsbury Hall. This is where a great deal of the ‘culture’ found on campus occurs: music performances, comedians, you name it. The Park Building and President’s Circle, are landmarks at which to convene with others and centers of the travel around campus.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Group 2 - Bonneville Shoreline Trail


Group Members: Mike Brown, Avery Reynolds, Brad Thomson, Chris Hom and Kajsa Vlasic

Last weekend, our group took an afternoon hike up on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail to explore the concept of an "edge" within Salt Lake City. Because of Salt Lake City's location in a valley, the Shoreline Trail creates a physical separation between the foothills of the surrounding mountains and the city below. The trail runs all along the Wasatch Mountain Range on the eastern side of Salt Lake City and follows the shoreline of the ancient Lake Bonneville. The trail continues to run north of Salt Lake (all the way up to the Idaho border) and continues south of the city as well. Certain sections are not as developed and accessible as others.

We hiked up onto the Bonneville Shoreline Trail just east of the University of Utah dorms. The trailhead can be found by following the gravel road just past the Red Butte Garden
Amphitheater entrance (about a 5 minute walk from building 810). It was a sunny afternoon without a cloud in the sky. The trail is generally used by mountain biking, hiking and trail running enthusiasts, but because we decided to go on our hike during the heat of the afternoon, we did not encounter anyone using the trail. From this location along the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, walkers can head north toward Dry Creek which continues then toward City Creek Canyon. If walkers head south, the trail continues toward the Hogle Zoo. Smaller trails break off from the main Shoreline Trail, allowing access into smaller canyons and up onto the higher ridges of the
foothills. The view from this edge of Salt Lake City is incredible and the atmosphere is very peaceful.

The Shoreline Trail creates an edge on the eastern side of Salt Lake City. Currently, construction at the University of Utah is destroying this edge. The Huntsman Cancer Institute, most significantly, is adding onto their hospital building which is interfering by creeping up very close to the trail and invading the mountainside. If this is continued, there will soon be a physical interference with the edge of the city by destroying a section of the Shoreline Trail.

The other significant edges of Salt Lake City are created by the Interstate Highway System. I-15 creates a western edge to the city by symbolizing a physical barrier between downtown Salt Lake and the neighborhoods on the west side. I-80 creates a physical barrier along South Salt Lake. Together with the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, these two Interstate edges contain the
general Salt Lake City area. Although the Salt Lake Valley continues on the other sides of both Interstate edges, the contained area is what is mostly known as Salt Lake City.



Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Gallivan Plaza

The topic for the Group 6 walkabout was nodes. I suggested that we go to Gallivan Plaza, and the others agreed. From Gallivan plaza, you can transfer from Downtown trax, to the Sandy line, or the University line. It also is also in the center of the commerce zone of Salt Lake. There are several small stores, including a piano bar, a bookstore. The plaza itself is very pretty, with several statues. The statues were quite different from each other. My favorite statue was one with a red rock on top of a pillar, and the top half of the pillar was a mirror, which you could only see the blue sky in. I can’t be sure but I bet at night, the rock looks like it is floating.

In the plaza there are little buildings, which have pi, written in the windows. Along the south side of those building, is a wall that has been made into a sculpture, with a quote inscribed in it. The architecture of the Gallivan center is quite modern, and the plaza itself has a modern edge to it while still radiating a slightly English garden party feel. The Gallivan center had a lot of construction going on behind it, which disturbed the peaceful feel. After exploring the plaza, we decided to visit some of the local stores, and spent a lot of time in the bookstore right across the street. It had books from before 1900, and several rare editions of famous books.

I enjoyed the trip to the plaza, and hope to go back, especially to that bookstore, and if they finish construction in time, I will definitely go ice skating.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Group 1 - Sugarhouse Farmers Market

Written by: Teresa Pond


For our group’s walk about, we had the opportunity to attend the Sugarhouse Farmer’s Market on the block of 21st South and 9th East on Friday, September 10, 2010. It was a beautiful day: sunny, about 75˚, with a slight breeze. We could not have asked for more perfect weather.


Our group of five met in the back parking lot of Sage Point 810 where all of us live. From there we walked over the bridge, hopped on the Trax, transferred to a bus, and walked a couple of blocks to the farmers market. This time on the public transportation gave us a chance to get to know one another a bit better, as many of us didn’t know the others real well.


When we arrived at the farmer’s market we instantly felt a true sense of community and a spirit of diversity in the atmosphere. As a group this was the first time we had really interacted and had a full conversation so the light-hearted spirit and friendly atmosphere helped to break the ice between us. Along the sidewalk of the block spanning from 900 East to 850 East on 2100 South there were white canopies set up with all sorts of vendors set up underneath them. At the market there was everything from fruit and vegetable vendors, to meat vendors, to bread vendors, to jewelry, wool, and clothing vendors, to food vendors selling out of food carts, and everything in between. Each vendor had their own unique style but they all came together to complete the market.


One thing that became very apparent to us when we arrived was the sense of community we felt between the vendors and between us, as customers. The vendors all seemed to be very friendly and most of them knew one another. They were all more than willing to assist us and each other. Additionally, they were by no means pushy to sell their product. The vendors all seemed happy to be there making us, as customers or consumers, feel comfortable and relaxed. The market was also pet friendly as many of the vendors had their dogs with them.


While walking through the market, we noticed there was a very urban feel. The clothing style was diverse but certainly could be classified as more ‘organic’ and although there were not obvious political references, there was a more liberal attitude apparent in the gay magazines and City Weekly newspapers available for pick up. The farmer’s market was also very environmentally friendly. Recycling bins could be located in several places and water was free if you brought your own container. Otherwise, the cup was 10 cents.


Another thing that was also apparent to our group was the lack of social differentiation among the vendors and the customers. It wasn’t obvious that any particular person was rich or poor – everyone seemed equal. Spanish and English were spoken, American money was exchanged, various kinds of products were sold, people of all ages and races were there, and animals were welcomed. All types of people from all walks of life were at the famer’s market and the diverse spirit of Sugarhouse was in the air.


Although only one person in our group purchased something from one of the vendors, each one was more than willing to give us their card or pamphlet. There was also a friendly information man who directed us towards different vendors and informed us of the upcoming events in downtown Sugarhouse.

Our first walk about to the Sugarhouse Farmer’s Market was a lot of fun and provided our group with a good opportunity to bond in the fun, diverse, and spirited environment. Although the weather is about to turn and the market won’t take place for too much longer, it will certainly be back next year, and will be a place we all visit again.

Group 8 at the museum!

In the dark recesses of lower campus lies a mythical place, a site brimming with danger and desperate action where only the valiant venture...


We are, of course, referring to the Utah Museum of Fine Arts.

This is the establishment our intrepid party of honors students decided to investigate. Situated a mere four stops away traveling by the red shuttle from the Heritage center, the museum can safely be categorized as a public place as anyone can enter, though like every other area there is an undercurrent of unspoken rules which we will delve into at a later point.

Once we had successfully gained entry our group paused for a moment in the small café just inside the door to monitor our surroundings. When going into any sort of establishment, public or otherwise, one of the giveaways for the target demographic is invariably pricing, so one of our first observations was the cost of eating meals. We found the actual food to be suitably overpriced, as per our expectation, though the beverages were rather reasonable by comparison. We then took note of the notable lack of traffic, no doubt due to the timing of our visit (an hour before closing on a Tuesday afternoon), but we did find signs of human life, however scarce. These signs consisted of college students meandering the halls, a vital observation nearly overlooked in the hustle for more applicable in formation. While this is an obvious target group, given the location of the museum, the nature of the intended audience influenced the goings on in subtle ways.

The most apparent of the atmospheric changes was the attitude of the staff, some of whom appeared to approach their duties in a relaxed manner and with amicability not seen in similar constructs. This mentality evidenced itself in the form of a staff member who happened by as our brave troop was poking about the modern art exhibit, admonishing us to “Be careful not to step on the banana peel, it’s art.”

Now while there was an amiable aura about the place, by no means was there any sense of pervading laxness from either the employees, many of who were fellow college attendees, nor from the visitors. In general the staff was smartly dressed and the sightseeing masses (though tending to be absent on Tuesday afternoons) were well represented by casual, but respectful, attire on the few that did make a brief foray. This air of mutual respect was prevalent throughout the museum, represented in both the art and humans alike. This is natural, as the museum is a place of refuge for those wishing to escape the hustle and bustle of a strenuous day for a couple hours or conversely a venue for research, neither of which benefits from disruption. Interaction between people is generally objective, though not in order to offend, as rarely does someone enter the double doors without an agenda in mind.

The exhibitions themselves were thrilling with temporary exhibits ranging from Mexican art styles to the pottery of ancient Africa, which even included a sarcophagus. (With the exception of the modern art area, which the group agreed to be more bemusing than anything.)

One of the more intriguing temporary showings was a room dedicated to Utah based painters depicting Mount Olympus from a variety of perspectives. This was an interesting way of connecting with the public, and further investigation into past exhibitions revealed numerous similar displays over the last two decades.

This idea of accruing more general interest was highlighted with the highlight of our visit: the Mexican section, a nice departure from the European paintings that so often are the focal point of such establishments. There were several gorgeous works on display that produced several “Ooo’s” and an “Ah” from our gallivanting group, particularly a tapestry woven strictly from yarn, as well as an ornate musket and this painting from the early 20th century.

Unfortunately our visitation concluded with a panicked rush to the second floor (Yes, there are two floors!) in a frantic effort to indulge in the more standard fare of the European art, though the brief glimpses revealed some marvelous paintings.

We were glad to see the attentions that the lesser displayed cultures were given at the museum, which we interpreted as a continuing attempt to bring in new admirers of beauty and toil. We cannot speak for all who enter the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, but we can safely say we had a marvelous time exploring this public place.

Sugarhouse Park Explosion!!



This last Sunday, Group 5 -- Lauren Walker, Britany Maher, Brittney Casad, Chelsea Marshall, & Jane Mathisen --ventured to Sugarhouse Park.


The park seemed to cater to three demographics: dog walkers, people seeking exercise, and those with children.




Four legged friends were well accomodated at the park. At the entrance of the park, a sign welcomed dog lovers and laid out rules so that man and canines could coexist. Streams, walkways, and large fields provided ample opportunity for dog entertainment. We observed dog owners of every variety toting dogs of every breed. Despite the fact that there were multiple opportunities for conflict, people kept their pets in line.




The long, circular paved path played host to an assortment of athletes. The pathway was divided into three sections: one for bikers, one for pedestrians, and one for automobiles. This division managed to keep safe bikers, drivers, walkers, and the occasional cross country skier!





Centered in the park was a large pond which attracted children from across the valley to feed the water fowl. There was also a very popular playground where children congregated. Relaxed parents watched them from the nearby benches. Other children took advantage of the hills and fields to play makeshift games.


People throughout the park were extremely friendly. An elderly couple gave us a loaf of bread to feed the ducks. Several people talked to us without being prompted. The environment in the park was welcoming and at no point did we ever feel unsafe.

Public transportation to the park on Sundays is limited and we waited nearly an hour for the 220 bus to take us back to campus.
Overall, Sugarhouse Park is an fantastic asset to residents of Salt Lake City. We enjoyed spending a beautiful afternoon feeding the ducks and geese, and being a part of the lively atmosphere surrounding the park.