(upbeat music) - Salt Lake County Arts and Culture's "The Great Salt Lake: "An Uplifting Artistic Oasis," highlights the environmental importance of the lake through art.

And here to tell us more is Kate Ithurralde.

Hi Kate.

- Hi Mary.

- Thanks for being here.

So this is gonna be a great exhibit and, of course, you're opening on the night of Gallery Stroll.

- Yeah, it's a win-win.

So we're celebrating how artists in the Salt Lake County Visual Art Collection have been inspired by the Great Salt Lake.

You know, for generations, artists have been inspired by the Great Salt Lake, so we really wanna examine that through their lens.

It spans over 100 years of art.

The oldest painting that is in the exhibition is from 1910 by acclaimed Utah artist John Leo Fairbanks.

And then we have more contemporary works of art, for example, by Liberty Blake, who's a very accomplished abstract collage artist.

And her work is a must-see in person.

- Ah, this is great.

And tell us where the exhibit is.

- Yeah, so the exhibit will be on view at the Salt Lake County Government Center, which is on 2100 South and State Street.

And it'll be in the South Building on the first floor.

It will open with a really fun opening reception on April 18th, and it'll actually be on view until December 15th, so a while.

- Oh, great.

And I know on opening night you've got a great collaboration coming up.

I want you to talk about that.

- Yeah, thank you.

We're so, so excited.

We've partnered with the Making Waves Artist Collaborative, and so after, we're gonna have some brief remarks and then afterwards, they're gonna be doing a really interactive performance that will include like a sing-a-long and costume performers.

So come get your picture taken with like a giant brine shrimp.

(both laughing) - I love it, I know when I saw costume performers, I thought, "Hmm, what costumes will they wear?"

- Yeah.

(Kate chuckling) - Great.

Great.

Well, it sounds like you've got a lot going on.

It's gonna be wonderful and I'm sure it's free, open to the public?

- Yeah, absolutely free.

And if you can't make the opening reception, we do offer tours year round to the general public also for free.

So you can sign up on our website for a tour.

- Great.

Well, thank you so much for doing it.

Thanks for being here.

- Thank you, Mary.

- And if you'd like to know more about that upcoming exhibition with the Salt Lake County Arts and Culture, "The Great Salt Lake: "An Uplifting Artistic Oasis," April 18th from 5 to 7 is the event at the Salt Lake County Government Center.

Go to saltlakecountyarts.org.

I'm Mary Dickson, thanks for watching Contact.

(upbeat music) - Local events, arts, culture.

It's what brings us together.

Hi, I'm Mary Dickson.

Here on Contact, we introduce you to local events and organizations that serve your neighborhood.

If you work for a nonprofit and would like to appear on our show, please visit pbsutah.org/contact.