Weber State Department of Visual Art & Design

🎹✨ Ever wonder why there’s a giant piano outside Abravanel Hall?

This 9-foot-tall, 13-foot-wide playable sculpture is more than just a conversation piece — it’s a celebration of music, art, and community. Created by Utah artist and DOVAD Professor Jason Manley, the piece is made from five upcycled pianos and invites everyone (musicians and curious passersby alike) to stop, play, and be part of the experience.

Part of the “Key Changes” project, this larger-than-life instrument brings visual art and performing arts together in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City. 🎶 Stop by, take a turn at the keys, and discover the magic waiting outside Abravanel Hall.

Read the full article here:

Why there's a 9-foot-tall piano sitting outside of Abravanel Hall A 9-foot-tall playable piano art piece draws attention to an event coming to Salt Lake City this month, but it also might inspire new players.

🎹 Five pianos. One incredible work of art.

Tomorrow at noon (Friday, June 5), The Blocks Arts District, the Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation, and Salt Lake County Arts & Culture unveil Piano Assemblage Ensemble — a monumental new sculpture created by Utah artist and DOVAD professor Jason Manley with the help of DOVAD students Jayden Wright and David Vogel.

Crafted from deconstructed pianos and featuring a functioning piano visitors can play, this interactive installation transforms music into a larger-than-life public art experience.

Following the unveiling, enjoy a free outdoor performance by local pianist and 2026 Bachauer International Piano Competition competitor Bennett Larsen.

📍 Abravanel Hall Plaza
📅 June 5, 2026
⏰ Noon

Free and open to the public!

Congratulations to DOVAD assistant professor Kellie Bornhoft for receiving a Utah Artist Fellowship! She has some incredible work that you can find on her website linked in our bio. “Touchstone” being one of them which invites viewers to consider their own material composition as a blend of geological minerals.

In her sculptures, Bornhoft embeds sixteen of the most prevalent minerals found in the human body into large sheets of resin in the same proportions as found in the body. The shapes echo the way geologists slice rock to reveal what lies inside.

Photos of gallery by Zachary Norman.

✨ ART 4660 Special Topics: The Photobook: Image, Sequence, Form

Learn how to edit, sequence, design, and make your own photobooks with instructor Claire A. Warden. This course explores the photobook as an artistic medium through image-making, storytelling, layout, and production.

🗓 Tuesday & Thursday (Fall 2026 semester)
⏰ 9–11:45 a.m.
📍 KA 210A
🔖 CRN #25791

Mark your calendars for The Design Vanguard Global Symposium 2026!

This event is bringing together international design leaders to explore how design drives cultural, commercial, and social impact. The symposium is scheduled for Thursday, Apr. 9, 2026, from 2-5 p.m. MDT in Lecture Room 229, Elizabeth Hall.

The hybrid event features influential speakers from Argentina, Croatia, Spain, and the United States, offering insights into professional practice, innovation, and the future of design.

Step into the ancient world this Fall '26 semester 🏛️✨

Sign up for ARTH 3200 and explore the art, monuments, and archaeological sites of Greece from the Bronze Age through the Hellenistic period. Discover how material remains and excavation practices bring ancient cultures to life—while building a deeper understanding of the stories behind iconic works of art.

📚 ARTH 3200: Art and Archaeology of Greece
🗓️ Fall 2026 | M/W 11:15 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

“On Sight” brings together dynamic new works by DOVAD students Payton Schreiber-Pan, Zane Smart, and Tristan Wendl.

Join us for the opening reception on March 26, 5–6 p.m., and experience the exhibition on view through Apr. 23 at Shepherd Union Gallery.

Art Education professor Cathy Qi had the pleasure of taking her art education students Annabel Hatfield and Lauren Windley, to the National Art Education Association National Convention 2026 in Chicago from March 4–7. Annabel also joined as a presenter, sharing her experiences teaching under-resourced students—her first time both attending and presenting at a national art education conference.

While in the city, they also spent time exploring the incredible collection at the Art Institute of Chicago, making the trip both productive and inspiring. 🎨✈️

The Art Guild has more events coming up this March! Join us for a risograph demo, block printing workshop, figure drawing session, and more opportunities to make art and connect with fellow creatives at Weber State University. Check out the schedule and don’t miss out! 🎨