Friberg's legacy

WEST VALLEY CITY — As the 50th anniversary of the motion picture "The Ten Commandments" approaches, the Utah Cultural Celebration Center will pay tribute to the film by displaying the paintings that made it come to life. Arnold Friberg, 92, was the man behind the paintbrush and genius to the film's artistic legacy.

The cultural center will have all the original paintings that inspired the sets and costumes of the film on display, including the unveiling of Friberg's latest painting called "The Light of Christ."

Leon D. Burrows, chairman of Utah Cultural Arts Foundation, said the display is to commemorate the 50th anniversary of "The Ten Commandments."

It is important for Burrows and the Utah Cultural Celebration Center to make sure the arts are shared with the surrounding communities.

This is the third time the paintings from the film will be on display. There will be 32 paintings showcased.

"The exhibit is a tribute to the work Arnold did on the film," Burrows said,"and the purpose is to educate and inspire people at large of the great visual arts that we have."

Cultural center executive director Ross Olsen said having Friberg is obviously monumental.

"His art affects a lot of people — whether people have seen the movie or live their lives by 'The Ten Commandments,' " he said.

To have art have such a powerful effect on community members, the artist would have to be extraordinary, and Olsen believes Friberg to be just that.

"He's (Friberg) a remarkable man in his own right," said Olsen. "He should be considered a national treasure — he's a patriot and very religious."

The exhibit opens Saturday and will stay on display until May 26.

Although Friberg's paintings will return to him after the exhibit, the cultural center has intentions of creating a permanent home for all of his works.

The center has over 60 acres of property, and Olsen said 30 of it is yet to be developed. Their hope is to eventually construct a museum to house Friberg's collection.

"Hopefully someday his paintings will all be in one place," Olsen said.

He said a museum will possibly be built within the next five years.

If a museum is built, Friberg said he would like to see it used as an educational tool. It would show how paintings developed from compositional drawings, models and research sketches.