On this Independence Day I wanted to do something special to celebrate the “land that I love,” from its spacious skies and amber waves of grain to its purple mountain majesties and, of course, those fruited plains. I consider myself to be quite fortunate that I’ve had the opportunity to travel to each of the 50 states. It was a…
Author: Brian Passey
The Next Chapter: An Announcement
It’s been quite the ride since Sept. 14. On that stormy day in St. George, I drove to work listening to The National’s “Sleep Well Beast.” Lightning was crashing all around and I remember thinking, “It will be really strange if I’m laid off today.” I knew layoffs were scheduled. Unfortunately, that has become a normal part of the employment…
Theater Review: ‘Fairy Tale Christmas’ at Tuacahn
“Fairy Tale Christmas” is, perhaps, one of the most creative productions to ever grace a Southern Utah stage. That’s saying a lot for a region that is home to both Tuacahn Center for the Arts and the Utah Shakespeare Festival. It’s even more impressive because Tuacahn’s current production of “Fairy Tale Christmas” is a world premiere. This is the first…
Theater Review: ‘Plaid Tidings’ at Brigham’s Playhouse
Well, color me plaid. And color me surprised. I really enjoyed “Plaid Tidings” at Brigham’s Playhouse on Saturday night. Typically, I try to refrain from first-person subjectivity in my theater reviews, but I wanted to admit up front that I wasn’t interested in seeing “Plaid Tidings.” Honestly, I’m not sure why, but the basic plot of the musical and its…
Theater Review: ‘A Christmas Story’ at St. George Musical Theater
It’s the cult Christmas movie. It has become a holiday classic on par with “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The lead character is absolutely iconic — a child of myth and legend. This all makes any production of “A Christmas Story: The Musical” a high bar to meet. But who better to helm a holiday musical based on a beloved cult classic…
A Golden Spike and the Spiral Jetty
Even though I’ve been regularly visiting Brigham City for three years now, I hadn’t been to Golden Spike National Historic Site in nearly a decade and I had never seen the Spiral Jetty. That all changed last week while visiting my in-laws for Thanksgiving. Cammie grew up in Brigham City so we visit her family there at least three or…
Prestigious Art Exhibit’s First Time in Utah
This is a big deal. While non-painters may not be familiar with the Oil Painters of America, this 3,600-member group is one of the leading art organizations in the nation and it’s bringing its Western Regional Exhibition to Utah for the first time. And Illume Gallery of Fine Art in St. George is the host gallery. In fact, Illume’s arrival…
The Captivating Art of Djibril N’Doye
A few months ago I was attending an informal potluck lunch meeting in the office of Kathy Cieslewicz, the mother of visual arts here in Washington County. Not only is Kathy full of great ideas, she loves making connections among people in the arts. And that day I met Djibril N’Doye, a Senegalese artist who now lives here in Southern…
Autumn in Zion
Aside from those rare stormy days when wispy clouds slink through Zion Canyon, my favorite time to visit Zion National Park is during the autumn as the cottonwoods along the Virgin River become bright yellow in the cooling temperatures. On Saturday I was scheduled to spend the morning in Grafton, where I would be shooting family photos for a former…
Theater Review: ‘She Loves Me’ at Brigham’s Playhouse
There’s a certain charm to Brigham’s Playhouse. Part of it is the Washington City theater’s atmosphere, from the quaintly picturesque exterior to the intimate stage and audience area. Part of it is the focus on desserts and how the cast of each production helps sell the treats before the show and during intermission. Then there are the productions themselves, many…