Art event selects royalty, top artists

SPRINGVILLE — The naming of the art royalty for 2006 is the crowning event of the 82nd annual Spring Salon and 40th Art Ball at the Springville Museum of Art last week.

Bethany Barr was crowned art queen. Attendants are Erica Brown, Jennith Lucas, Kylie Moore and Mia Wells.

The Spring Salon is Utah's premiere annual art exhibition.

Modeled after the famous Paris Salon, the exhibition is open to all Utah artists. It was "the best we ever had," museum director Vern Swanson said, echoing a statement made last year.

A record 997 works were submitted and 270 accepted for the exhibition, Swanson said.

Utah County artists included Linda Ackerman of Provo, who took one of two juror's second placed awards and Nathan A. Johansen of Provo, who garnered the guest artist award.

"Super Ball XL" included a silent auction of local sports memorabilia, while volunteer staffers sported tuxes and tennis shoes.

Blair Bushwah was the honored guest. A local Utah artist, his work is displayed in the Football Hall of Fame.

Brigham Young University football coach Bronco Mendenhall was also honored.

Guests wandered throughout the museum, viewing galleries, listening to music provided by the Wasatch Bones trombone group while dining on finely catered gourmet cuisine. The evening ended with a dance to a broad range of tunes by the James O'Neil Miner Band.

Funds raised from the Art Ball this year benefit the museum's sculpture garden.

---

E-mail: rodger@desnews.com