N.Y. artist judges Springville Salon

Anthony's Antiques and Fine Art of Salt Lake City became involved in bringing Jacob Collins to Utah several months ago, after a discussion between Micah Christensen, Anthony's son, and Vern Swanson, director of the Springville Museum of Art.

"I had been following Jacob Collins in the popular press and gallery grapevines for several months," said Christensen. "While visiting the Springville Museum, Vern showed me a catalog he had received for a Collins' show at a prominent New York gallery (Hirschl & Adler Modern)."

After sharing their mutual admiration for Collins, the two discussed the possibility of one day bringing the artist to Utah but with no particular context for the visit.

"Several weeks later," Christensen said, "Vern had traveled to New York and was at a small dinner party that happened to have Collins as a guest. Impressed by his articulate and clear thinking on contemporary Classical Realism, Vern asked him if he would be willing to judge the Springville Museum's Spring Salon."

Collins agreed if funds could be arranged.

After speaking with his colleagues at Anthony's, Christensen offered to help the museum bring Collins to Springville to jury the salon.

"We're just so grateful," said Swanson, "that Anthony's Antiques brought Jacob out, because we could never have afforded it ourselves."

Anthony's Antiques paid for half the cost of bringing Collins to Utah; the SMA covered the remainder.