Weber State University (WSU) Mary Elizabeth Dee Shaw Gallery Welcomes Artist Yasuaki Onishi

Featuring Reverse Volume Exhibit

Northern Utahans Can Witness The Only Art Display Of Its Kind In Utah By Globally-Known Artist

Who: Weber State University (WSU) Mary Elizabeth Dee Shaw Gallery

The Mary Elizabeth Dee Shaw Gallery provides contemporary art exhibitions, educational
programs, arts activities, lectures and film series that give visitors access to the art of the
time. The gallery aspires to engage a diverse audience, generate a sense of community and
provide insight into the creative process. The purpose of the art exhibits is to challenge
visitors to contemplate, discuss and understand the cultural context of contemporary art. It
serves the community members of northern Utah. The gallery displays the work of local,
regional and nationally recognized artists.

About the Artist: Yasuaki Onishi, B. 1979 Japan

Yasuaki Onishi studied sculpture at the University of Tsukuba and Kyoto City University
of Arts. His solo exhibits have been featured throughout Japan and internationally. His
artwork was included in Ways of Worldmaking and at The National Museum of Art, Osaka
(NMAO). In addition, Onishi was the recipient of a United States-Japan Foundation
Fellowship. The fellowship included a residency at the Vermont Studio Center and a grant
from The Pollock-Krasner Foundation Inc., New York.

What: Yasuaki Onishi’s Art Exhibit Reverse of Volume

In his installation, Reverse of Volume, Yasuaki Onishi uses simple materials. His artwork
is created by a plastic sheet and black hot glue. Onishi’s exhibit is a mountainous form that
appears to float in space. The process he calls "casting the invisible" is his meditation on
the nature of negative space. Onishi’s artwork creates physical manifestations of the
unknown, invisible or otherwise unseen. His site-specific sculptural installations become
landscapes of contemplation. His artwork invites visitors to observe how the simplest
qualities of light, form and line change with each passing encounter.

When: Opening Reception: Friday, February 8, 2019 at 7–9 p.m. (MST)

Exhibit is open from February 8-April 6, 2019.

Where: Weber State University Kimball Visual Arts Building

3964 W Campus Drive
Ogden, UT 84408
(Map available here)
Information: This art exhibit is free and open to the public. No ticket is required.
Free parking will be available in the ‘A’ and ‘W’ lots directly south of the Val A.
Browning Center. Artist will be in attendance at the opening reception. Live feed of
installation.

Contact: Charley P. Whitney, APR

Weber State University Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities
Director of Marketing and PR
Phone: 801-626-6431
Cell: 303-827-5164
Email: charleypeterson@mail.weber.edu
 Audiences

The art exhibit’s primary audience is women with an age range of 40-45 (https://bit.ly/2O90Mtf) and an
income of $45,000-50,000. According to the Huffingtonpost.com, more women attend art exhibits than
men. In addition, women who have a college or graduate education attend more art museums
(https://bit.ly/2O90Mtf). Research has shown, that women who are in their forties take interest in art
displays (https://bit.ly/2O90Mtf). This audience will increase community involvement in Weber State
University’s (WSU) art program.

Ellen Fagg Weist is the secondary audience. She is a female journalist for The Salt Lake Tribune with an
age range of 35-40 and an income of $41,000-46,000 (https://bit.ly/2O7GS1I). The Salt Lake Tribune is
Utah's largest newspaper and most popular news website (https://bit.ly/2HY3otI). Focusing on this news
outlet will increase awareness of the exhibit in Utah. Weist covers arts, theater, and local literary trends.
She has received first-place entertainment writing awards in 2014, 2015 and 2017
(https://bit.ly/2JZMFrD). Weist is highly-qualified to effectively reach a large audience in Utah and
generate interest in Onishi’s exhibit.

An additional secondary audience for the exhibit is female art students from WSU with an age range of
21-26 (https://bit.ly/2JoJNV7) and an income of $20,000-25,000 (https://bit.ly/2FIGNxK). According to
school-stories.org, a larger number of art students are women. Students majoring in the frequently attend
the event because they share an interest on the subject (https://bit.ly/2WJCwBc). Weber State University
students have an opportunity to gain inspiration for their own work when they experience the art exhibit
themselves. In addition, art students can learn how Onishi became successful.

Another secondary audience is male art students at WSU with an age range of 21-26 and an income of
$20,000-25,000 (https://bit.ly/2JoJNV7). Although there are fewer males in the art program at WSU, men
regularly take advantage of discounts on events (https://bit.ly/2I61nuQ). The art exhibit is free and will
appeal to men for this reason. According to Forbes.com, this age group will likely be interested in coming
to the exhibit because they value experiences (https://bit.ly/2uFRhIX). When male students attend the
exhibit, they will provide an environment for them to network with artists in the community.

Another secondary audience for the art exhibit is female Weber State University professors with an age
range of 50-55income and an income of $51,000-56,000 (https://bit.ly/2JYD9VO). The gender of this
audience is female because there are more women who teach at WSU (https://bit.ly/2I6vIJD). The role of
professors is to provide academic leadership to the university (https://bit.ly/2YL9QJz). Professors will be
more effective in this role by attending events such as Onishi’s art exhibit. When going to the event, they
will interact with students, enhance their own learning experience and promote school events to their
classrooms. When professors get involved, they will be more successful in their career by networking
with people on campus (https://bit.ly/2suGxMO).