Springville art show has spiritual focus

SPRINGVILLE — Artist Kirsten Barnhill's art comes from a deeper source, says Springville Museum of Art Director Vern G. Swanson.

"It has to be inspired and come from a feeling within or it can't happen," said Swanson.

Barnhill entered the Spiritual and Religious Show for the second time this year with "No Grey Line." It's the 22nd consecutive year for the show, which ushers in the holiday season.

The juried exhibition explores the varied spiritual aspirations, feelings and perceptions of contemporary Utah artists through many different styles and mediums.

Artists entered 271 works of which 135 were chosen for the show.

"Juried exhibitions, such as this one, afford younger artists an opportunity to gain recognition and exhibit their work alongside more experienced artists," said Jessica Weiss, assistant curator.

Because of the religious nature nature of the exhibition, artists display works that have a deeper meaning.

"Most artists hesitate to put their deepest spiritual selves on the line in a work of art. They normally rely upon artistic conventions, so it is gratifying to see so many of Utah's best working in this area," Swanson said.

Among the 28 works that received awards was "Gethsemane," a symbolic work in oil with accents of metal leaf by J. Kirk Richards. It won the Director's Award.

First place went to Wulf Barsch for his "The Labrynth or the Book of Walking Forth by Day" described as an energetic, metaphysically oriented oil painting on canvas.

Second and third place went to "Emblems," an oil on canvas by Chris Young, and "Ascending," a three-dimensional figurative work of a mother and child in hydrostone by Leroy Glenn Transfield.

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If you go . . .

What: Spiritual and Religious Show
Where: Springville Museum of Art, 126 E. 400 South
When: through Dec. 27
Cost: free
Phone: 489-2727
Web: www.smofa.org

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E-mail: rodger@desnews.com