As Prof. Beth Krensky's recent exhibition, The Trees Will Love You and The Earth Will Hold You, at Material Gallery, closes Thursday, September 25th, numerous exhibition reviews remind us of this extraordinary show. Each article touches on various aspects of her work's power, beauty, and magic.
If you were unable to see her exhibition at Material, she will have some work in the Department of Art & Art History's faculty exhibition, Relative Truths, at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. This exhibition runs from September 26, 2025, to January 4, 2026, with an opening reception on Friday, September 26th, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
"Material Gallery Hosts Beth Krensky’s Meditation on Vulnerability and Ecology"
The article in Utah's arts magazine, 15Bytes, written by our own Prof. V. Kim Martinez, beautifully describes the exhibition by stating:
From the moment we enter the gallery, Krensky’s work envelops us in a sense of gentle ritual. The space is punctuated by delicate, hand-crafted objects: a shroud stitched from salvaged cloth, vessels filled with earth, and branches suspended to suggest both fragility and resilience. Each piece is imbued with the artist’s characteristic sensitivity to material and meaning—her practice often blurs the line between art object and spiritual tool.
"Beth Krensky’s enchanting stream of consciousness: Material Art Gallery exhibition The Trees Will Love You and the Earth Will Hold You"
Written by Les Roka for The Utah Review, the author describes some of the work in the exhibition as follows:
Although the Material Gallery space is really compact, the extent of objects on display is astounding. In an antique oak and glass mercantile display case (Keys to Open the Beginning Before the End), for example, there are 60 keys made variously from mixed media materials she has collected, electroplated copper and gold leaf. Individuals also are invited to commission their own key, by first answering the artist’s question, “If you had a key that could open anything, what would you unlock?”
Some 800 silver and gold-filled antique pocket watches make for pocket reliquaries. A portable altar has crab shells. Working with her son, Zev Gorfinkle, Krensky included plant talismans bronze plaques that specify the role of the plant in either attracting positive energy or repelling dark and negative forces. Archival prints comprise the Oracle of Clovers, which document their spiritual impact and energy. Made from driftwood from Port Orford, Oregon, 13 wands and staffs made variously from aspen, olive, or found driftwood are displayed.
"5 Standout Shows to See at Small Galleries This September"
The Artsy website, a leading global online art marketplace designed to make discovering, buying, and collecting art accessible to everyone, included Prof. Krensky's show as one of the top exhibitions to see worldwide in September. The article's author, Maxwell Rabb, also discussed "The Store of Wishes," as do the other articles. Rabb describes it by stating:
Accompanying the exhibition is what Krensky calls “The Store of Wishes,” an evolving collection of objects gathered or crafted across decades and continents. Modeled on Cabinets of Curiosities, it functions as an archive and an emporium. Visitors will be able to purchase items, including hand-made wands, such as Wish (2025), made from driftwood from Port Orford, Oregon.
Featured image from 15Bytes: Beth Krensky can be seen in the rear talking about her “Keys to Open the Beginning Before the End,” at Material Contemporary in South Salt Lake.