Freemasons
By Celeste Rosenlof
October 10, 2011
One joins the Freemason fraternity for one of three reasons: to feel part of something, gain a social network of people or to find out their secrets.
Matthew Nelson, Junior Warden of the Damascus number 10 chapter, joined for what he describes as a healthy combination of the three. In the early 2000s, Nelson became interested in Freemasonry. He looked into it for some time before deciding to join, but in the seven years since his initiation, he has become more involved with the group’s purpose of “making good men better.”
This idea – focusing on respect – is a large part of the Freemason fraternity. They involve themselves in events and charity work and, in Nelson’s case, educational lectures about his participation with the fraternity.
People outside the group may be seeing its positive affect. The Provo Damascus number 10 chapter is currently the fastest growing in the state, even more so than the other two chapters that share the Masonic Temple. Read the full article here.
Pizzacademy Awards
By Nick Scholz
Photography Virginia Johnson
October 31, 2011
Some people are just different from everyone else. They exercise their genius in whatever medium speaks to them most and inspire the rest of us to be better than we think we can be.
These four Utah Valley artists work in the medium of sauce and cheese to tease our taste buds and satisfy our stomachs.
Award categories this year include Best Supporting Toppings (most possible topping choices), Best Cheese in a Leading Role, Best Adapted Pizza (most traditional), Best Art Direction (appearance of the pizza), Best Set Design (restaurant decor) and Best Original Story (The Story of the Restaurant).
Also included is a list of each of the restaurant’s best pizzas, why they stand out, and how they bring you back for more. Now, let’s meet the nominees… Read the full article here.
Pawn Shops
By Sierra Wilson
Photography Clark Goldsberry
January 16, 2012
My wedding ring came from a pawn shop. It holds a large, sparkling diamond and looks like a delicate rose. My fiancé found it himself, and I love it.
Even still, I feel a little like I should say the words “pawn shop” in a whisper.
I’d never entered one until last month. And when I did, I found a surprising variety of unique antiques, curious oddities, wonderful discounts and, of course, some junk.
Utah Valley is home to over a dozen pawn shops.
My journey led me to a trio of three pawn shops, nestled together like unlikely siblings on a single block of Provo’s Center Street. Visiting the shops, getting involved in conversations within, and soaking up their auras showed me that pawn shops, like people, are unique individuals able to offer novelty, discount and a little adventure to residents of Utah Valley. Read the full article here.
Studio 760
By Clark Goldsberry
Photography Jake Buntjer
February 27, 2011
A growing band of artists, assembling under the moniker Studio 760, are fanning the flames of innovation and creativity by propagating fine art in the valley. This group’s primary objective is to put power into the artist’s hands.
By displaying large quantities of work in unconventional places such as houses, railroad stations, street corners, back alleys and forests, the group is focused on exposing the public to the rich treasure trove of creativity that rests right beneath their feet—a diversity of art that simply would not and could not fit into a typical Utah Valley gallery.
Studio 760 started when two young artists, Jake Buntjer and Patrick Bates, began sharing their disappointment that galleries in the valley represent such a small sliver of the art that’s actually produced here. As they talked, the idea for Studio 760 emerged from a spray of sparks and a plume of sulfurous smoke. But even at that moment, they had no idea how explosive their idea actually was. Read the full article here.
Silversmithing
by Faith Heaton
Photography Greg Benson
March 12, 2012
Winston Mason didn’t always want to make jewelry. In fact, at first he longed to be a painter. Then he became a police officer for eighteen years. But his talent couldn’t remain hidden forever.
Mason has been making handcrafted Native American jewelry since 1963. His interest was first piqued when he attended the American Indian Institute of Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He was quite an accomplished painter and was studying watercolor and acrylic painting when he became intrigued by a jewelry making class.
Mason developed the skills and taste necessary to become a successful jewelry maker. He typically creates pieces that have a Native American style by using turquoise, silver and colored stones.
“The hardest part about jewelry making is trying to outdo yourself every time you do a piece,” Mason said. “Almost daily you learn something new about how metal reacts or what you can do with it … I learn something daily.” Read the full article here.
