Shoes by Kali Mellus

As Frank McEntire wrote about in our November edition, non-profits and cultural organizations frequently seek out visual artists to help them out in their fundraising goals. McEntire pointed out that these fundraisers can sometimes have a negative impact on the art community, drawing patrons away from the commercial art market and diminishing the value of an artist’s work. Enter Ballet West’s “Shoe In,” a fundraising event that event organizer Christopher Renstrom believes will be great PR for both the Ballet and the artists; and because “Shoe In” asks the artists to create unique works outside their normal artistic practice, the fundraiser will hopefully be positive for visual artists and their community.

When Adam Skulte, the Ballet’s Artistic Director, and Renstrom, his partner, moved to Utah last year neither knew much about the local arts scene. Renstrom says it’s always been Adam’s dream to collaborate with artists on ballets and since they were doing Cinderella that season Renstrom came up with the idea for Shoe-In. “I suggested that we take a pair of pointe shoes– since pointe-shoes are iconic of ballet and the glass slipper is so integral to the plot of Cinderella– and that we approach local designers and artists to see what they would come up with as their ‘take’ on Cinderella”

Renstrom says the response was tremendous. “We had artists creating shoes in all kinds of mediums. We had shoes in stain glass, shoes made out of metal, shoes in wood, pollymer clay, shoes in quartz, and even shoes in prickly thorns.”

The shoes are displayed during Ballet West’s season, available to patrons for purchase, with the proceeds going to Ballet West.

“At first no one knew what to make of the Trent Alvey shoes that hung from the second floor balcony of the Capitol theater down to the floor of the lobby,” says Renstrom of last year’s “Shoe In.” “They were weighted down by rock salt, I think, and they reminded me of Olive Oil’s long stretchy legs from Popeye. In any case I knew that they would be a hit and sure enough they captured the attenton of the audience and always had a long line in front of them. They were the first to sell and I’m glad to say that they went to a happy home.”

Since the first “Shoe In” was so successful Skulte has decided to make it a regular event. He feels it provides great PR for the ballet and terrific exposure for the artists. Skulte’s desire to work with local artists doesn’t end with this fundraising event. He is also interested in collaborating with Utah artists in creating costume and scenic designs for new productions at Ballet West. “He is hoping to implement this as early as next season,” Renstrom says, “and he is looking to choose a collaborator from the terrific bunch of artists from both last year’s and this year’s ‘Shoe In.'”

How it works: Ballet West will provide a pair of pointe shoes to be decorated according to the artist’s whim and creativity. Exploring all kinds of mediums and pushing boundaries is encouraged; however, the shoes must be both transportable and non-perishable. Finished pointe shoes will be displayed beginning Friday, February 12, 2010 at all Ballet West performances in the Capitol Theatre and Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, providing local artists with exposure to Ballet West donors and patrons. “Shoe In” creations will also be available for purchase throughout the run of the season with proceeds going to Ballet West. The remaining shoes will then be auctioned off at the Ballet West Fashion show in May 2010. Sketches for shoes must be submitted to submissions@balletwest.org by Sunday, December 20, 2009. The finalists will be chosen by a select committee. For more information on “Shoe In” call Ballet West, (801) 323-6900.

Shoes by Lenka Konopasek

15 Bytes

UTAH’S ART MAGAZINE SINCE 2001, 15 Bytes is published by Artists of Utah, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.