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CUAC if you like art

In "Conscious Utah Awesomeness Children," a play on the Central Utah Art Center's acronym, Brooklyn-based artist Mariah Robertson pushes the limits of photography and video through interactive film and video projections and an installation of a 100-foot roll of hand-processed photo paper.

In CUAC's upstairs gallery, another Brooklyn-based artist, Courtney Puckett, investigates the history of women using stereotypical feminine materials to challenge the rules of painting and sculpture. Puckett weaves, stitches and knots discarded domestic items.

When • Through Jan. 13

Where • Central Utah Art Center, Main Street, Ephraim

Info • http://www.cuartcenter.org

Foodie art at Tin Angel Café

Many Salt Lake City restaurants have become serious galleries for local art. The Tin Angel Cafe, where owner and chief cook Jerry Liedtke pursues art in food, is showing an exhibit of food in art. Artist Laura Besterfeldt makes and casts sterling silver jewelry from real edibles, including broccoli, wine vines, pistachio and walnuts and even lobster claws and tomato slices. Then, she finishes — or should we say garnishes? — the gleaming pendants and earrings with gem stones. Fittingly, the jewelry is displayed on plates.

When • Through Dec. 24

Where • Tin Angel Cafe, 365 W. 400 South, Salt Lake City

Info • 801-328-4155

Life is better out West

It is a bit ironic that "Westside/Eastside: After Images of Salt Lake City," is showing at the city's Sorenson Unity Center, considering the exhibit takes on Salt Lake's infamous stereotype of disunity: the clichéd divide between east side (affluent, progressive) and west side (poor, backward). Cecile G. Paskett, a photographer and graduate teaching fellow in the communications department at the University of Utah, turns Salt Lake's east-west stereotype on its head by making art from her urban fieldwork and photographs. Through panoramic cityscapes, Paskett argues that "the 'unique' environments championed, and currently under construction, by urban developers and residents of the east-side cultural middle class can already be found in the west-side sectors in the city." The vaunted "walkable" and "livable" neighborhoods constantly sought on the east side by urban planners, Paskett argues, have already emerged organically on the west side.

When • Through Dec. 31

Where • Sorenson Unity Center, 1383 S. 900 West, Salt Lake City

Info • cecile.paskett@utah.edu

Art takes flight in the most unusual space

During the holidays, travelers are likely to get copious free time to hang out at the Salt Lake International Airport. The Airport Department helpfully suggests that trekkers treat the airport as a sprawling art gallery that includes hundreds of works of realism and abstract painting and sculptures. As might be expected, much of it exalts Utah's vistas and tourist landmarks, and few pieces make overt political statements — although some of the illustrations of painter Chris Paul Miles lean toward the subversive and a glass work by Jenkyn A. Powell in the International Terminal seems to make a statement on air-traveler confusion. You must, of course, get through security screening to enjoy it.

When • Ongoing

Where • Salt Lake International Airport

Info • http://www.slcairport.com

Clicking his heels three times

Brigham Young University graduate Dave Merrill has led a successful career as an artist of nature scenes and wildlife, and he can count a Beatle as a patron — Ringo Starr bought one of his rooster paintings. But most of his work is exhibited in galleries outside Utah. In this local show "In My Back Yard," Merrill turns his eye on the Provo area, with paintings of familiar locales such as Salem Pond, Bridal Veil Falls and his backyard.

When • Through Jan. 26

Where • Covey Center for the Arts, 425 W. Center, Provo

Info • 801-852-7007 or http://www.coveycenter.org

With art comes awesome responsibility

Layton native David Dibble, who has worked for three years as a color designer for Blue Sky Studios, working on such films as "Rio," "Ice Age 4" and "Leafman," will discuss his artistic vision and career at Southern Utah University department of art and design's lecture series, Art Insights. Dibble, based in New York, says he views his profession as a privilege and responsibility to help others see deeper into life and creation.

When • Thursday, Dec. 8, 7 p.m.

Where • Centrum Arena, Section K, Southern Utah University, Cedar City

Info • 435-865-8800 or http://www.suu.edu/arts

'Finally a Book About me'

Utah artist and art educator Tony Smith (aka Frank Anthony Smith) has published a book that offers an in-depth view of a subject dear to him — Tony Smith. The title of his book, illustrated with new art work, offers a pretty good idea of the irreligious nature of Smith's take on the Utah art scene and life in general, F**k You — Finally a Book About Me. (Sorry, but Smith's unexpurgated title won't fly in this family newspaper.) The book, $38 in hardcover, is available at galleries around town, including the Salt Lake Art Center, Phillips Gallery and the Utah Museum of Fine Art.

When • An exhibition of Tony Smith's work runs through the month

Where • Ken Sanders Rare Books, 268 S. 200 East, Salt Lake City

Info • 801-521-3819 or http://www.kensandersbooks.com

Get your event listed here by contacting Glen Warchol at gwarchol@sltrib.com.