A group of people of various ages work on art and craft projects at tables in a brightly lit room decorated with a large turtle sculpture on the wall. Some are painting, while others are cutting paper or chatting.

Open Studio: Rubber and Felt Sculpture

Explore the UMFA’s collection of contemporary art and create your own sculpture inspired by the work of Chakaia Booker!

When: Thursday, July 16, 2026, 1 pm–4:30 pm
Where: UMFA
RSVP For This Event

Looking for a place to meet fellow artists and learn new skills in Salt Lake City? Open studio workshops at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts invite you to explore your artistic potential and the galleries! Feel free to bring your own sketchbook or current project to work on among new friends.  

Chakaia Booker’s Discarded Memories occupies a central space in the UMFA’s global contemporary art collection. Booker slices, twists, weaves, and rivets discarded tires to create radical patterns that are akin to African textiles and body decoration. The forms reflect the wear and tear of life, while also critiquing the industrialization, consumer culture, urban waste, and environmental concerns that are at the forefront of the 21st century.

A statue made of twisted strips of tire.
Chakaia Booker, American, b. 1953, Discarded Memories, 2008, Tires wood, metal and paint, Purchased with funds from the UMFA Young Benefactors and the Phyllis Cannon Wattis Endowment Fund, UMFA2009.15.1 A, B

Can repurposed material retain a memory of its previous function? Explore this question and create a standing sculpture inspired by Chakaia Booker’s Discarded Memories using rubber, felt, and wood.

All materials are provided. This workshop is for adults 18+. All levels of experience are welcome. RSVP is encouraged but not required. Attendees with RSVPs will be prioritized, but drop-ins will be welcomed as space allows.

You may also Like

Logo for the Beverly Taylor Sorenson Foundation