Artist: Anita Schley
Title: Growing New Roots
About the artwork: Recently while trying to save a plant from root rot, I ended up making a cutting and growing new, healthier roots from it. Isn’t that like life sometimes? Sometimes it becomes healthier to grow in a new way and in a new place (either figuratively or literally.) This piece is about starting over.
About the artist: I graduated with a BFA from the UofU in 1996. It took me 6 years to get my BFA. During that time I worked as a receptionist at the Utah Museum of Art, a lab assistant at the UofU Music Library, and was a darkroom lab tech and TA in the the photo department. I was a part of multiple exhibits during my time at the U. After graduating I taught multiple community art classes, two photography classes in Box Elder County, and one alternative high school drawing class in Brigham City. I taught several classes in CLASS art school in Salt Lake City. I also taught an alternative photo class for a semester at Salt Lake Community College. I had artwork in multiple galleries and exhibits in Group shows, including: the kimball Art Center (where I won third place and honorable mention awards in different shows), Statewide Annual Photo Exhibit and more. I won a Utah Artist of Merit Award in 1999 for the Utah Arts Festival. I had a solo show in Art Access Gallery in 2000 and another solo show in Evergreen Gallery in 2002. My artwork was part of a silent auction for Utah rape recovery center in 2000 and a part of the UGGLIES benefit event. In 2003 my husband and I began the process of adopting our children. Between 2005-2009 we adopted 4 children- all older children and some with significant issues, trauma histories, and mental delays. Out of necessity I quit working as an artist to focus on the healing of my children. In 2019, I decided to try my hand at art making again. It’s been difficult coming back. The art world is very different and I’m not the same person that I was in my earlier career. I’m still trying to figure out who I am as an artist today. I appreciate everyone that has welcomed me back into this “new world.” It’s not easy starting over at my age. Thank you!
