Brigham City Museum of Art and History’s
Utah Plein Air Exhibition
Sept. 11 through Oct. 10, 2015
Scenic bliss awaited participants in the Brigham City Museum of Art and History’s recent Utah Plein Air Competition. “En plein air” is a French expression that refers to the 19th century style of painting outdoors. Artists of all ages had 10 days to select outdoor sites in Utah, create the artworks, and submit them to the museum. The works will be on display Sept. 11 through Oct. 10. Admission is free.
A reception for the artists will be Oct. 10 at 4 p.m. Refreshments will be served. The public is invited.
The museum is located at 24 North 300 West. The entrance is on the west side. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. For further information, please phone (435) 226-1439 or visit www.brighamcitymuseum.org.
Accompanying the exhibition are photograph’s of Peach Days from 1920 and 1921. The images are part of the museum’s permanent exhibition and were taken by local amateur photographers.
The juror for the competition was Woody Shepherd, assistant professor of painting and drawing at Utah State University. Shepherd has a MFA from Yale University in painting and printmaking.
Professor Shepherd selected the following for awards in the painting category: Trent Gudmundsen, Preston, Idaho, first place; Allen Brockbank, Centerville, second place; and Jami Willson, Liberty, third place. Honored in the photography category are: Sandra Todd, Wellsville, first place; Haley Parsons, Wellsville, second place; and Michael Goates, Brigham City, third place. Of note, Parsons was one of the youngest participants. She is the 12-year-old daughter of Barry and Julie Parsons.
The juror selected the painting by Gudmunson for an award because of his “interesting and diverse use of paint and composition - the use of color is very sophisticated”; Brockbank, “…like the shape and poetics of the painting as well as the use of layers”; and Willson, “…love the energy that is created through the use of paint and brushwork.”
The photograph by Todd appealed to the juror because of the “very interesting composition and movement through space – the exposure is dream-like”; Parsons, “…shapes of the composition are intriguing”; and Goates, “…love the color and how mysterious the captured image is.”
***Article written by Mary Alice Hobbs
