PAINTERS OF THE WASATCH MOUNTAINS; by Robert S. Olpin, Thomas F. Rugh and Ann W. Orton, Gibbs Smith; $60, hardback, 258 pages.

"Painters of the Wasatch Mountains" is the first in a series of books on art from the Museum of Utah Art & History (MUAH).

Co-authored by Ann W. Orton, Thomas F. Rugh and the late Robert S. Olpin, the book offers a historical survey of the artists and their paintings completed within the context of Wasatch environments.

In the book's introduction, we are told that artists who painted — and continue to paint — Wasatch scenes are not defined by a particular style or medium but "by a physical presence that has unlimited appeal and inspiration."

According to Rugh, past executive director of MUAH, the idea for the book came about after meeting with, and requesting contributions from, the financial investment firm Wasatch Advisors. In the course of their dialogue, Rugh discovered the company gave year-end gifts worth up to $100.

Believing they might be interested in an art book on the Wasatch Mountains, Rugh researched the topic and found no such publication extant. "So I talked with Bob Olpin about it and he said, 'Oh this is something I've wanted to do all of my life.' His dissertation was on American Landscape painting."

After the book's introduction, Orton details — through fascinating geological particulars — the very long history of the mountain range and why it has been, and remains to be, a popular place to live.

The lion's share of "Painters of the Wasatch Mountains" is devoted to an essay on the art and artists who have rendered and are rendering the region; included are examples of their paintings.

The essay by Olpin and Rugh is competent and interesting, but those readers familiar with Olpin's earlier writings on Utah art and artists will recognize much of this material.

Short biographies of participating artists make up the final portion of the book. This, however, is also a reprise of Olpin's earlier writing, but necessary to make the book feel complete.

One thing readers will immediately notice when picking up the volume is the occasional inferior reproduction quality of some of the art. This is a minor complaint, but when discussing a coffee-table book, bad image quality can make or break a publication.

Also, the selection of contemporary painters in the book is lacking; there are many other artists — some more important — that should have been included.

Still, "Painters of the Wasatch" is a good first book for MUAH and sets the stage for continuing art publications that will help define the myriad aspects of Utah art.

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E-mail: gag@desnews.com