Time, Truth, and Other Immeasurables opens Fri, Sep 11. Image: L, 03 49 09.7, +24 03 12, 2017. Airbrushed pigment on canvas. Collection of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Church History Museum.
Time, Truth, and Other Immeasurables opens Fri, Sep 11. Image: L, 03 49 09.7, +24 03 12, 2017. Airbrushed pigment on canvas. Collection of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Church History Museum.
May 1, 2026 6–8 PM
The Sacred West gathers artists, researchers, and cultural practitioners for a public symposium centered on land, perception, and place. Moving between presentation, music, and workshop formats, the evening considers how the landscapes of the West are studied, interpreted, and lived with.
Dinner will be served at the event ($10/person).
A limited-capacity guided hike the following day serves as a field extension of the symposium, carrying these questions into the landscape itself.
Psychedelics: Emerging Clinical Applications and Research at the University of Utah
Dr. Lewis presents an overview of the current landscape of psychedelic science, including key questions, challenges, and tensions in the field. He will also share research from his work at the University of Utah, with a focus on psychedelic-assisted therapies, group-based approaches, and intersections with mindfulness and meditation practices.
Dr. Benjamin Lewis is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Utah’s Huntsman Mental Health Institute. He directs the Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Clinic and works in inpatient adult psychiatry. His research centers on psychedelic-assisted therapies, particularly group models and combinations with contemplative practices.
A live set of compositions for 12-string guitar and octave mandolin
A live set of compositions for 12-string guitar and octave mandolin, developed while exploring the south shore of the Great Salt Lake. Two works feature collaborators Lauren Erikson (flute) and Tate Grimshaw (guitar and vocals). These pieces reflect on the lake’s ecological conditions, history, and presence in the region.
Stephen Rodgers is a Salt Lake City–based composer and multi-instrumentalist. His work spans solo piano, folk, and electronic music, drawing from extended time spent in Utah’s landscapes. He performs widely with regional artists and has released multiple albums and singles.
Land, Art & Spirit
This workshop asks how landscapes communicate—through memory, dreams, and attention. Participants will be guided through meditation, dream recall, and drawing exercises. Herbal tea will be served, and each participant will take home plants to support ongoing engagement with sleep and dreaming.
Blanca Stacey Villalobos is a cultural steward and interdisciplinary artist with roots in Jalisco, México, and Southern California. Their work brings together land-based practice, education, and community engagement. Through Song Dog Relations, they facilitate bilingual programs centered on belonging, healing, and relationships to land.
Medicine n Magic with Flower Essences
An introduction to flower essences as a form of vibrational practice used in healing, ritual, and transition. The session includes guided flower-gazing meditation, an overview of how essences are made, and ways to incorporate them into daily life.
Kat Nix is a floral designer, artist, and founder of Ritual in Bloom. Their work explores grief, ceremony, and plant-based practices, drawing from traditions of curanderismo and end-of-life care.
Saturday, May 2 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
What becomes possible when we slow down enough to listen to the land?
Led by Blanca Stacey Villalobos, this guided hike invites participants into close observation and reflection within the lower mountain canyons. The group will walk up to two miles at an easy to moderate pace, with frequent stops for solo and shared exercises focused on land relations, local histories, and sensory awareness.
Snacks will be provided. Participants should bring water, a journal, and writing materials.
The trailhead location will be shared with registered participants by May 1.
Accessibility & Questions: roxanne.gray@utahmoca.org
