Michael Bingham, founder of Jump the Moon, located at 553 North Main Street in Logan, shows of the new gallery. The gallery will show resident and professional pieces for sale.
LOGAN – Michael Bingham, founder of Jump the Moon located at 553 North Main Street in Logan, just finished a gallery in their studio space. The gallery will show resident artist’s works, so they can be sold. There is also space for professional pieces. They are also planning to be part of the Gallery Walk on Dec. 20.
“I’ve had some artists with some well-known local ties donate work to be sold,” Bingham said. “Nancy Crookston lived in Cache Valley now she as relocated to the San Francisco area; Josh Clair is a young artist who lives in Paradise; and, an art collector gave us one of Jerry Fuhriman’s paintings we hope to sell.
“Clair is a young and well-known local artist who has been highlighted in several national art magazines. His work is getting a lot of attention and doing very well. He is a very talented guy,” he said.
Michael Bingham’s Jump the Moon Foundation is a nonprofit art gallery and vocational arts program, dedicated to giving people with disabilities an opportunity to make and market their art.
Bingham said they are getting back on the Galley Walk circuit, hoping people will come by and see the work created by Jump the Moon artists and the works of the three professional artists with local ties as well.
“When we first opened up we did the Gallery Walk, even though we were away from the main body of galleries,” he said. “We didn’t have very many come by.”
He is hoping the new gallery space will help draw people to Jump the Moon during the Gallery Walk.
“There was a time when we had a lot of people going through the different galleries during the Gallery Walk,” he said. “I have been kind of hesitant about returning to it, but with the art from local professionals, it could bring more people into the studio.
The gallery walk is from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Jump the Moon’s gallery will be open an hour earlier at 5 p.m. and go until 9 p.m.
“There is plenty of parking behind the building on Dee Street, it’s at about 50 West,” he said. “There is a big sign that says Jump the Moon parking.”
There is a lot of other art in the studio that people can see as they come into the studio.
“We have a variety of artwork here and we want more people that need a place to work to join us and make art with us,” he said. “We call everyone who comes in an artist. They might say they are not an artist, by the time they leave here, they are an artist.”
Bingham thinks everyone has artistic abilities, but they’ve forgotten how to make art.
“There is a vocational aspect of what we do at Jump the moon,” Bingham said.
“I would like it if people can sell their work and earn an income,” he said. “I like to say they are people with divers-ability and not a disability, it’s more positive.”
Bingham has people doing more than painting: they have sculpture, fiber art, computer art, print making and more.
“We probably have more than 20 artists that are active, but we are continually growing,” Bingham said. “We have some come every week and some come once a month and some when they can.”
People driving by may see the building is for sale, but Jump the Moon is still alive and doing well.
“Faith has taken us this far, I started the thing with an idea and no money, and it has gotten bigger than I thought it would,” he said. “Look how fast it has grown and the number of people involved in one way or another.”
Jump the Moon foundation is a handicap-accessible, family friendly art studio and gallery.
“We would like it if people that came could give a $5 donation per visit, but we will take them if they don’t,” Bingham said. “We provide the space and supplies.”