Springville High School Art Gallery
Entrance to the art museum, June 2012
Springville Museum of Art is located in Utah
Springville Museum of Art
Springville Museum of Art is located in the United States
Springville Museum of Art
Location126 East 400 South
Springville, Utah
United States
Coordinates40°9′39″N 111°36′28″W / 40.16083°N 111.60778°W / 40.16083; -111.60778
Area1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built1936-37; 1964[2]
Built byWPA
ArchitectAshworth, Claude S.
Architectural styleMission/Spanish Revival
MPSPublic Works Buildings TR
NRHP reference No.86000750[1]
Added to NRHPApril 9, 1986

The Springville Museum of Art in Springville, Utah, United States is the oldest museum for the visual fine arts in Utah. In 1986, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As of 2022, the museum's director is Emily Larsen.

Description

[edit]

Completed in 1937, this building was designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style by architect Claud S. Ashworth (1885–1971).[3] It was dedicated by LDS Apostle David O. McKay as "A sanctuary of beauty and a temple of meditation." The museum "seeks to fulfill its mission by refining minds and building character through the fine arts."[4] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 as Springville High School Art Gallery.[1]

It was built during 1936–37 and was extended in 1964.[2] The Springville Museum of Art was made possible by the Nebo School District, the Works Progress Administration Act, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1964 a two-story wing was added as a gift from the Clyde Foundation.

History

[edit]

The Springville art movement began in 1903 with a donation of art by John Hafen and Cyrus Dallin. It was followed in 1907 by a donation from seven other Utah artists. The Smart collection came in 1925, followed by the Steed Collection (1948), and the Lund-Wassmer Collection in 1986. The Art Association Board of Trustees and the City of Springville continue to contribute to the growth of both the museum and its art.

The museum is noted for its collection of Utah art spanning from pioneer days to the present. Most of the major artists and styles of Utah are represented in nine permanent galleries in the museum. All 275 of the pieces are arranged in chronological order and show the development of art in Utah. The works of 250 artists are featured, including those of Doug Snow, Lee U. Bennion, Mahonri Young, Dan Weggeland, Francis L. Horspool, and LeConte Stewart. The museum celebrated the 80th anniversary of the Springville Art Museum in 2017.[5]

Museum timeline

[edit]

Permanent collection

[edit]

Selections of the museum's collection of 2,300 works are displayed on the second floor. They consist of art from Utah, the former Soviet Union and the United States.

Temporary exhibitions

[edit]

The seven main galleries on the first-floor display temporary shows and consist of a wide variety of styles dealing with both historical and contemporary issues. Some of the most popular exhibitions include the annual exhibitions: the All-State Utah High School Art Show, the Quilt Show,[6] the Spiritual and Religious Show,[7] and the Spring Salon.[8]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ Haws, David R. Haws (August 3, 1990). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Frederick and Della Dunn House" (PDF). nps.gov. National Park Service. Retrieved August 22, 2018. and accompanying three photos from 1989
  3. ^ "About". www.smofa.org. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  4. ^ Harris, Sarah. "Happy 80th, Springville Museum of Art! Utah's first museum gets ready to celebrate", Deseret News, 10 November 2017. Retrieved on 10 April 2021.
  5. ^ Wadley, Carma (July 30, 2006). "Stitching stories : The Springville Museum of Art's quilt show blends craft and art". Deseret News. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  6. ^ Hardy, Rodger L. (December 21, 2006). "Religious art: Springville Museum of Art exhibit runs for the 21st year". Deseret News. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  7. ^ Hulse, Megan (April 27, 2017). "Springville Museum of Art's Spring Salon looking good at 93". Deseret News. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
[edit]