History — 1980s

1980

Robert S. Olpin publishes Dictionary of Utah Art, in
collaboration with the inaugural year of programming for
SLAC and the United States Bicentennial celebrations.

New directors see the Salt Lake Art Center through its first decade
at its new location. Robert J. Doherty is named director
(1981-83); followed by Richard Johnston (1983-87); Dan E. Burke
(1987-89); and Allison South makes history as the first female
director (1989-1992).

1981

Led by a twelve-person Sculpture Project Committee chaired
by Jack W. Jarman and funded by over sixty donors, SLAC
commissions and installs the monumental sculpture, Column
24, created by leading 20th-century Russian American painter
llya Bolotowsky, in the outdoor courtyard.

Lee Dillon becomes the manager of the ceramics studio with
Roger Newbold joining as manager of photography studio in
1984.

1983

With significant financial support from John and Marcia Price
Family Foundation, the Salt Lake Art Center stabilizes after a
bumpy first few years in the new location. The Price Family
Foundation Endowment is established and Marica Price,
serving as board president, reorganizes the board from
forty-seven members to ten.

1984

Renovations enhance exhibition space with multiple, large
exhibitions able to be shown simultaneously.

1986

Salt Lake Art Center Guild reorganizes and sponsors the
Beaux Arts Ball. Jan Simpson Memorial Sign Tower is
installed in front of the Art the building.

1989

R. Harold Burton Foundation funding expands education
programs, tours, and lectures. Grey Foundation and Ford
Foundation help support a wide-range of traveling
exhibitions, allowing SLAC to bring in more national and
international artists to Utah audiences.

A flurry of museum-produced catalogs are published, 15 in
1980s alone, in contrast to a single volume from the entire previous
decade.