9 great pieces of art at the Springville Museum of Art

9 great pieces of art at the Springville Museum of Art

("Just Graduated, 'We are Going Into a New Life' " by Akhmed Ibadullovich Kitaev)


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ART CITY — Since the donation of two works of art to Springville High School in 1903, the Springville Museum of Art has built its collection through careful selection.

Written by current and former staff of the museum, including emeritus director Dr. Vern G. Swanson, "Springville Museum of Art: History and Collection" was officially launched last week with an accompanying exhibit.

The pieces in the exhibit, also shown in the book, are from the museum’s permanent collection.

To celebrate the book and exhibit launch, Dr. Rita R. Wright, director of the Springville Museum of Art shared some visitor and staff favorites from the collection.

“One of the things that we recognize at a museum of art, today especially, we’re really focused on what the visitor is sensing and encountering. We’re very visitor- centered,” Wright said. “These are not just judged to be the finest works in the collection, the ones with the greatest technical merit, but ones that really have inspired, touched, influenced people — that they really want to see over and over again.”

“Mountain Stream” by John Hafen

This beautiful treescape was donated by John Hafen in 1903 to the Springville High School Art Gallery (which later became the Springville Museum of Art). A Mormon pioneer who trekked from the east to Utah after emigrating to America from Switzerland, Hafen sponsored the development of arts in Utah as a young man. After his studies in Paris, Hafen returned to Utah, putting his hands to work painting murals in the Salt Lake Temple.

Wright said his “Mountain Stream” piece reminds people of tree-shaded Springville and the creek that runs through it.

"Paul Revere" by Cyrus Edwin Dallin
"Paul Revere" by Cyrus Edwin Dallin

“Paul Revere” by Cyrus Edwin Dallin

Springville native Dallin donated his plaster model of Paul Revere to the museum in 1903 during a speech to students. While its most famous bronze stands erect on the Paul Revere Mall in Boston, the Springville Museum of Art has placed a bronze of the sculpture in its garden.

Speaking of the first two pieces donated, Wright said, “I think that their merit and interest for audience is just how important they were to build a collection.”

“The Artist’s Wife and Daughters” by William Sergeant Kendall

"The Artist's Wife and Daughters" by William Sergeant Kendall
"The Artist's Wife and Daughters" by William Sergeant Kendall

As in many of his paintings after the birth of his daughter, “The Artist’s Wife and Daughters” shows a warm, maternal painting of home life. In this painting, Kendall’s daughters and wife, Margaret Weston Stickney, pose closely together. Mother’s hands wrap around daughter’s shoulders.

“I think what really resonates is that there’s this peaceful, calm, beautiful tranquility about it. It’s a finely done work,” Wright said.

The piece was recently cleaned and “glows” since its cleaning, Wright said.

“Boy with a Bun” by James T. Harwood

As part of a grant to reinstall their permanent collection, the museum has again hung this emotional picture of a boy in patched up overalls sitting on a hard church pew, holding a raisin bun.

Harwood painted this simple image of his son in his studio in 1910, creating “one of the most endearing images,” Wright said.

“It just reminds of all those stories of little farm boys,” Wright said. “It’s a portrait, but it’s a real narrative of childhood.”

"Playing the Game" by Joseph Henry Sharp
"Playing the Game" by Joseph Henry Sharp

“Playing the Game” by Joseph Henry Sharp

Back from the University of Utah after being on loan, Sharp’s work has returned in the museum as “one of the best pieces” at the museum, Wright said.

Sent as an entry to the Springville Museum of Art’s spring salon in 1939, it was purchased for $600 by Springville Jr. High at the time.

“Handcart Pioneers First View of the Salt Lake Valley” by CCA Christensen

This tiny painting (16x20 inches), made in 1890, is a favorite of visitors and often used in publications. Christensen and his wife trekked across America shortly after their marriage, and nearly 40 years later, he painted the image of pioneers viewing the Salt Lake Valley from Emigration Canyon.

“There’s that feeling of immediacy. This was somebody that was really there. His depiction of course, was in fond memory over 40 years later, but I think it’s just one of those homey, connects to people in that pioneer day sense,” Wright said. “It’s just a little jewel that whenever we’ve taken it down for any interim period, people ask ‘Where’s that pioneer painting?’ ”

“Entertaining: Favorite Ladies II” by Jeanne Leighton Lundberg Clarke

"Entertaining: Favorite Ladies II" by Jeanne Leighton Lundberg Clarke
"Entertaining: Favorite Ladies II" by Jeanne Leighton Lundberg Clarke

Earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts degrees at age 55, the artist studied people and portrayed them in the realist style.

In this delightful and fun painting, Clarke brings famous female caricatures from art history to a luncheon. Wright said the painting was part of Snow’s study of feminism and representation of a woman’s daily life.

The Springville Museum of Art often uses this painting in their art outreach programs. Wright said the painting really resonates with and inspires children.

“The Rhinoceros” by James C. Christensen

In this fantastical painting, Christensen places a rhinoceros and its feathered friend in a cramped room, painted to mimic the night sky.

“The rhinoceros itself looks like a magical, fantastical creature even if it’s real. But he’s kind of hedged in this narrow room, he can’t move. He’s so cramped he can’t even play with that ball that’s right there by him. But it’s done with that magical sense that James Christensen has.”

Visitors frequently comment on the painting as one of their favorites.

“Just Graduated, ‘We are Going Into a New Life’ ” by Akhmed Ibadullovich Kitaev

Kitaev painted what Wright describes as “one of the stars of our Russian collection” in 1953 after Joseph Stalin’s death.

In the painting, hope and joy shine in the faces of a “chorus line” of young women as they embrace the end of their old life. Sunbeams fall across their cheeks and stretch out shadows as they walk towards their new life.

See these pieces at the Springville Museum of Art in their permanent collection exhibit or purchase the book.

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Celeste Tholen Rosenlof

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