An Evening of Art and Community at UMOCA

Hello Friends,

What a wonderful evening at the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art’s Acid West Gala! The event brought together artists, collectors, and supporters of the arts for an unforgettable celebration of creativity and community.

Thanks to the generosity of its patrons, the gala raised more than $350,000 to support UMOCA’s exhibitions, educational programs, artist initiatives, and community engagement. It was inspiring to witness such enthusiastic support for the arts in Utah.

I was honored to have my work, Electric Meadow, included in the auction, where it raised funds above its retail value. Supporting an organization that champions contemporary art and meaningful cultural dialogue is especially rewarding.

Thank you for your continued support of my work and of the arts. Your encouragement helps sustain both artists and the organizations that enrich our communities through creativity, education, and connection.

With gratitude,

Janell James

✨ Electric Meadow ✨

Val Antczak, Friend and UMOCA President Emeritus

✨ Electric Meadow ✨, 24” x 24” Spray Paint on Board

A garden remembered rather than observed—where color overtakes form and landscape becomes pure sensation.

Inspired by Gustav Klimt’s immersive floral landscapes, this work reimagines the garden as a perceptual field rather than a fixed image. Saturated color emerges and dissolves through layered spray paint, creating a luminous field that feels both vibrant and elusive, as if drifting between memory and observation.

Created for UMOCA’s Acid West, the piece reflects a vision of the Western landscape shaped by perception, memory, and light—where boundaries soften, certainty dissolves, and what is felt becomes more important than what is seen.