Photography by Ed Kosmicki, Sponsored by Heal Utah
Exhibit runs from June 25–August 15
ARTIST STATEMENT
There are two major types of air pollution that afflict the people Wasatch Front and Salt Lake City, visible (called PM2.5) and invisible (ozone). We are now in the ozone-laden summer months when pollution is difficult to see and visually document, but the health risk is just as bad as in the winter months when most of these photographs were taken. So, let’s look at these images, mostly of the winter months and remember that the health hazard exists even now. Let’s also remember that the people elected to the Utah state legislature need to hear that this is a top priority for us and that, while we appreciate the efforts they have made, we need them to do much much more to address this significant public health issue.
"Poor air quality causes both acute and chronic health problems, including increased frequency and intensity of asthma attacks, decreased lung function, heart attacks, and it can lower our resistance to diseases, colds, and pneumonia, said Dr. Scott Williams, Executive Director of HEAL Utah. "Air pollution disproportionately impacts children and the elderly, as well as the health of those in lower income communities throughout Utah’s urban areas due to their location near freeways and industrial sources."
ARTIST BIO
As a career photojournalist, I am compelled to document the air pollution catastrophe that continues to sully the quality of life here in Salt Lake City. The images I submit here are the result of my personal 10-year observation and immersion in air pollution. They depict what is often the worst winter air pollution in the United States. Yet amazingly, they also often show the beauty of Salt Lake City shining somehow through it.
AGE GROUP: | All Ages |
EVENT TYPE: | Arts & Creativity |
The Salt Lake City Public Library's Marmalade Branch is the anchor of a mixed-use project developed as a key part of the Redevelopment Agency (RDA) of Salt Lake City's master plan for the Marmalade/West Capitol Hill area of the city. The neighborhood serves as a gateway to Salt Lake City from the north, and the Marmalade Branch is both a hub for neighborhood gatherings and an important welcome for visitors, highlighting a focus on development in the area. On-street parking is available on 500 North and 300 West, and UTA routes offer service with stops immediately in front of the Library on 300 West.
The two-story Marmalade Branch, designed by Blalock & Partners Architectural Design Studio and completed in early 2016, provides 18,600 square feet of new construction to support a thriving and growing community. The first floor includes the Moka Cafe, featuring local coffee and chocolate; a Creative Lab with the latest maker technologies like 3D printing and music-making software as well as "old school" tech such as sewing machines and a turntable; a flexible Children's area; and the very popular Music and Movies collection. The second floor includes the Adult collection, study rooms for a range of group sizes, and a large, flexible multi-purpose room with tiered seating to allow for a wide variety of events. The multi-purpose room has already been very popular with the community, hosting community feedback sessions, film screenings, TEDx events, music recitals, and the highly-popular Coffee and Chocolate Society. The second floor also features a wrap-around terrace offering views of the Capitol Building to the east, Salt Lake City's picturesque skyline and landscape to the south and, to the north, views to a public plaza and open green space as part of a new mixed-use development.
The project utilizes an exterior shading device along the west-facing glass to minimize solar heat gain yet still promote a dynamic interaction with the street and passersby. Its compact footprint reduces land use and allows for a high-performance building envelope. The use of LED lights, lighting control systems, occupancy sensors, and daylight harvesting reduce the amount of electrical energy consumption while the flood of natural light creates an inviting interior environment for patrons and an efficient, balanced workplace for staff. In honor of these sustainability features, the Marmalade Branch was awarded the LEED Silver certification from the US Green Building Council (USGBC).
