Artwork captures Utah historic homes

PROVO — Oil painter Andrew Ballstaedt fought the boredom of his daily commute from Salt Lake City by closely observing the architectural styles of buildings along his route.

A recent graduate of Brigham Young University with a Master of Fine Arts, he began to capture in oil the variety of those architectural styles, particularly in Provo. Among his paintings is the Alma van Waggenen home, built in 1917 at 415 E. Center. The prairie-style home is based on architect Frank Lloyd Wright's fireproof house.

Ballstaedt also painted an image of the Joseph H. Frisby home, 209 N. 400 West. The home was built in 1906 when Frisby was mayor. The artist will also display a painting of the George Taylor home, a crosswing house built in the 1880s, reminiscent of Gothic Revival architecture.

Those paintings and the work of two other artists interested in historic Provo architecture — David Hawkinson and Todd Orchard — are on display through July 28.

As a teenager, Hawkinson remembers tagging along with his father when he was taking a photography class in northern Wisconsin. There he experienced the darkroom "magic" of an image appearing on the paper. Hawkinson found direction in that experience and became a commercial photographer. He assists artists of other mediums by photographing their work.

"I'm interested in preserving in print the historic architecture of the early pioneers before (the homes) are gone," Hawkinson said. "They did some gorgeous stuff when it wasn't really called for."

Among his photographic images is the former St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, the LDS Tabernacle, and the Hannah Smith house, one of the wives of early LDS President Brigham Young's counselor George A. Smith. Built in 1878, it's an example of the simple architecture of the plains.

A native of Chicago, Orchard moved with his family to Bountiful. He graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts from BYU. Today he teaches part-time at BYU and paints portraits, murals and other work on consignment. He has his students paint what he calls "house portraits" as part of the class curriculum.

"They have such personalities," he said of historic homes. "Each home's personality is as different as people themselves."

Over the years as various families live in the homes, the structures and their landscaping change to meet the desires of each owner.

"Every one of them is a jewel in itself. They show a variety of color, texture and form," he said.

While many historic homes are known by their original owners, Orchard gave his pictures names to match their traits or personalities.

His portraits are in historic neighborhoods but are not necessarily historic homes. One painting he named "Morning Blues," while he calls another "Red Awning."

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If you go . . .

What: Historic Homes exhibit

Where: Terra Nova Gallery, 41 W. 300 North, Provo

When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., through July 28

Cost: free

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E-mail: rodger@desnews.com