She's demolished walls, painted for hours and spent every spare minute expanding her cozy gallery, 61 W. 100 South, to house a coffee shop that she shares with next-door neighbor Café Molise.
Even though the work has left her with aching limbs and a sore back, she has dreamed about it since quitting her job in 2002.
To celebrate, O'Mara will present her first all-women's show at the UTAH gallery through June 15 featuring art from Randee Levine, M'lisa Paulsen, Dottie Miles, Roberta Glidden and Judy Maryon.
"I thought it would be nice to show the diversity women have in their paintings. They all have such different styles," O'Mara said. "Plus, it's my birthday in May; plus, it's Mother's Day and I just felt like celebrating womanhood."
Her passion for local artists began when she was an interior designer and fell in love with the pieces by Utah artists.
"I was an interior decorator for years and I used to try to place local art in people's homes," O'Mara said, "and by doing that, I became really enamored with several of the local artists."
"People enjoy buying something more if they know the artist, and that's why artists do so well at art festivals, because they get to put a face with the work," O'Mara said.
"It's always been really important to me that people who come in here leave feeling as if they know the artist on a personal level."
O'Mara said she applies a local-only philosophy to every facet of her business, even selling local products served in pottery made by Utah artists at her new café addition, The Artful Cup.
Local talent is the heart of O'Mara's business, and the convergence of local women for her latest exhibit is no exception. O'Mara said the reason she is interested in art from a woman's perspective is because she sees a great need for women to express themselves.
"I've done lots of theme-type shows before, where there were several different artists with a common theme, so those all went together well," O'Mara said. "This was the first time I was really just after highlighting women and the diverse nature of their art."
Although the women came together through their ties to O'Mara, artist Glidden said the celebration of women in art has provided them all with a welcome support system.
"Painting is such an isolated thing. It's very solitary by necessity," Glidden said.
Another perk of the exhibit, Levine said, is the chance for the artists to represent each other instead of solely promoting themselves.
"I just don't have the business interest," Levine said. "I love the creative side of things. I don't know how other women feel, but I don't like getting on the phone and selling my wares."
"We can sell anybody's work in the gallery but our own," Miles added.
Art brings them together, Miles said, because art is a language that bonds women artists.
"That's what women do that men don't do," Levine said. "When was the last time you heard a man say to another a man, 'I think it's gorgeous and you should paint everyday.' "
The exhibit also gives the women a chance to receive feedback, something Paulsen said she misses since graduating from art school.
Although O'Mara said the exhibit has provided a positive environment for women to show their work, it also has given them a chance to bring to light the challenges that women face in art.
"I hate to say anything, but like anything else, in every profession including the art world, there is a cultural preference toward the male perspective," Levine said.
Paulsen said the obstacles Utah women artists face are partially based on the culture they live in.
"I do think they feel guilty about taking time for themselves because everything else comes first," Paulsen said.
Glidden said although women artists may have a harder time earning recognition, they are more apt to experiment with different subjects and mediums.
"I think that's why we're not as well-known or successful," Glidden said. "We're always messing around and trying new things, whereas guys have the good sense to say, 'Well, here's where my success lies. I'm going to crank out more of this.' "
According to Glidden, the variety that stems from having an open artistic process is what makes the UTAH exhibit, and each woman in it, so distinct.
If you go...
What: a meet-and-greet with the women artists currently being featured at UTah Artists Hands
When: May 21, 6-9 p.m.
Where: UTah Artists Hands, 61 W. 100 South
e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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