It's not often one has the opportunity of seeing and experiencing -- in one exhibition -- some of the best works of art by past and present faculty of the University of Utah's art department.
"Art at the 'U' -- The First 150 Years" traces the history of the University's art department, founded in 1888, by displaying works by such artists/faculty members as George Dibble, Alvin Gittins, J.T. Harwood, LeConte Stewart, Lee Greene Richards, Doug Snow and others.Robert Olpin, professor of art at the university, curated the show.
"Before I knew that I was going to be chairman of the department this year," Olpin said, "I became co-chair of the University's sesquicentennial planning committee. So, as co-chair, I thought, 'Well, I better do something with regard to art.' So the idea came to me that in the museum, and in the Gittins Gallery, we could put together a show."
Olpin, however, had to do all the work for the exhibit in his spare time. "So I didn't go back and try to find Robert Campbell, the regent that was appointed in 1850, who happened to be a photographer." He started with Danquart Weggeland, went on to George Ottinger, and then, virtually everyone that was in the department as faculty through the years till now.
"It was fun to get some high-quality work," Olpin said. "I went to Springville, I went to the state, I went to the church in one instance, because the piece was on loan at Springville (LeConte Stewarts' "Private Car"). And I went to the Union Building's collection. They have an awful lot of very good work over there. For example, I got Harwood's "Preparation for Dinner," which is a fine thing. It was his first one in the Salon in Paris. And I've got "Priscilla" by him, which is a tasty little, smaller portrait-type figure."
While the artwork appears to be displayed in chronological order, there were some aesthetic considerations to positioning. It is very full; at one point in the exhibit, it appears as if one is standing in an art-inundated French salon. "They're practically piled up on top of each other," said Olpin. "But it looks good. It's profuse."
The first part of the exhibit -- located in the UMFA -- goes right up to ceramist Dorothy Bearnson and printmaker Bob Kleinschmidt who just recently retired. The second part of the show is in the Gittins Gallery in the Art and Architecture Building. This features the current faculty "all the way through to Kaiti Slater and Maureen O'Hara Ure . . . the whole gang."
Olpin's excitement about the show is more than evident. "I've got Richards' portrait of Ottinger. It's just wonderful. I've got Richards' big, full standing portrait of Blanche Richards, an award-winner over in Paris. I've got three of the best Mabel Frazers you ever saw in your life. That great big beautiful "Red Rock," that Vern (Swanson, director of the Springville Museum of Art) had, and the WPA "Symphony." which the state owns. I love this work. It's just a marvelously stylized piece. And then, there is a desert plant that she did that's from the Union Building. All three are wonderful pieces."
The works in the exhibit come from the UMFA's permanent collection, the Springville Museum of Art, State of Utah Fine Arts Collection, the Deseret News and the A. Ray Olpin University of Utah Union Board Art Collection.
"Art at the 'U' -- The First 150 Years" runs through Feb. 29. Museum hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday, noon-5 p.m.