It's the perfect time of year to see artwork of a religious and spiritual nature, artwork that attempts to present the more positive, beautiful and reverential side of life.
Such an exhibit is the "15th Annual Spiritual and Religious Art of Utah," now showing at the Springville Museum of Art through Dec. 26.
"Most of the artwork in the show is charged with cultic imagery, personal beliefs and spiritual aspirations, both orthodox and heterodox," said Vern Swanson, director of the SMA.
Unlike other exhibitions where artists mainly address aesthetic issues, this show, according to Swanson, deals mainly with each artist's own heart and soul. "It is refreshing to see artists abandon artistic restraints and let their message completely overwhelm staid, formalist concerns."
The downside to Swanson's approach to the show — and this would be a very small downside — is that some of the work lacks craftsmanship and finesse, an obvious distraction when considering the show in its entirety.
A record 265 works of art were submitted to the exhibition, which was curated by Swanson, Sharon Gray, Robert Nickelson and Jana Emmer. Of those, 153 pieces were accepted for exhibition and are on display in the three main galleries of the museum's lower level.
The exhibition includes work from such notable artists as Dennis Smith, James C. Christensen, Wulf Barsch and Frank McEntire.
Smith was awarded one of the two Director's Awards for his assemblage and bronze sculpture, "So, Where Do We Go From Here?"
"This very large and very enigmatic work deals with the passage of mankind through various eternal states of development," said Swanson. As is typical of Smith's work, he intersperses welded metal, cast bronze and found objects in the piece, making a "statement of redolent power."
The second Director's Award went to J. Kirk Richards for his large-scale oil titled "Jesus Teaches the Parable of the Prodigal Son."
Richards, 22, is a Classical Realist whose painting (he has two in the exhibition) evokes feelings of reverence and awe. Of the artist, Swanson said, "He is new on the scene and portends to be one of Utah's and the LDS Church's leading figurative and narrative painters."
David Linn was awarded first place for his huge, cryptic work "The Inevitable Outcome," a lyrical, mesmerizing painting that will intrigue viewers.
Franz Johansen's bronze sculpture, "And the Veil Was Rent," received a second first-place award and stands out as one of Johansen's best works.
Second-place winners were Barbara Lyman for her mixed media piece, "The Feast," and Mark England for his immense and enigmatic pencil/mixed media, "The History of the Church."
The third-place winners were George H. Kehew for his acrylic "Revelation 6:12" and David Storey for his mixed media piece "The Sacrifice."
There were also numerous honorable mention awards given.
The "15th Annual Spiritual and Religious Art of Utah," while not entirely successful due to works weak in professionalism, is still good enough to spark viewers' spiritual imagination.
The Springville Museum of Art, 400 S. 126 East, Springville, is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Wednesday until 9 p.m. and Sunday, 3-6 p.m. Admission is free.
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