Selections

Permanent collection

Opened February 2, 2009 to present

Featured in this exhibit are selections from the permanent collection and works on long-term loan from the Dale and Teresa Neibaur collection of fantasy art. The Neibaur collection is comprised of over 90 paintings and drawings by Tim and Greg Hildebrandt. This exhibition contains works from the Lord of the Rings, Phantom of the Opera, and Fairy Tales series. Other works in the collection will be rotated into the exhibition periodically.

A second gallery has recent acquisitions to the museum collection. Included in this exhibit are works by Harvey Breverman, John O'Connell, Robert Marshall, Bruce Robertson, Hyunmee Lee, Catherine Downing, as well as prints attributed to Salvador Dali and Russian figurative bronze sculptures.

(image at left: Greg Hildebrandt, Sleeping Beauty. copyright, all rights reserved)

National Invitational Postcard Exhibition

November 6, 2009 - January 15, 2010

Opening reception November 6, 6 - 8 p.m.

Through a network of artists, an artist from each of the fifty states was invited to make a postcard size (5" x 7") image dealing in some respect with the place in which they live. This exhibit was assembled by Jeanne Voltura, Director of the Bridge Gallery, City of Las Vegas, NV, and was exhibited there in the summer of 2009. It is now traveling to these other venues: Woodbury Art Museum, Utah Valley University School of the Arts, Orem, UT; McCutchan Art Center, University of Southern Indiana; A.D. Gallery, University of North Carolina at Pembroke; USCB Gallery, University of South Carolina, Beaufort SC. Other venues are under consideration.

The art pieces represent visual contexts and environments with diverse impetus and purpose. While the concept of postcard art is not new, this iteration of such an event presents serious works of art on a miniature scale, as opposed to simply images that has transited the country through the US mail. Many of the works on paper are two sided - and are installed in such a manner as to permit the patron to examine both surfaces.

The image here is by Wyoming artist, Mark Ritchie

Lewis Sorensen Dolls from the McCurdy Doll Museum

November 6, 2009 - January 15, 2010

Opening reception November 6, 6 - 8 p.m.

Shirley Paxman founded the McCurdy Doll Museum in 1978 in Provo, UT and named it for Laura Christensen McCurdy who provided more than 3,000 dolls. Paxman commissioned the set of figures in this exhibition directly from Lewis Sorensen. Correspondence between Paxman and Sorensen regarding the set began in 1979 and concluded in 1985 shortly before his death.

Born in 1910, Sorensen became one of America's premier creators of wax dolls. The subject of numerous newspaper articles, Sorensen gained a broad reputation for his life-size wax figures, and a general reputation as an outstanding sculptor. He invented a unique wax technique that is soft enough to carve, but firm enough to resist melting. Appearing in this exhibit is a series of 24" – 30" tall “Father Christmas” dolls (3 of whom, interestingly, are female) representing traditions from a variety of nations.  The life-like, and individual character of each ornately clothed figure adds charm to the stories of their origin.

(Photo: Father Frost, Russian legend, detail)

Jeanne Clarke

Nov. 6, 2009 - March 5, 2010

Opening Nov. 6, 6 - 8 p.m.

Revered as an consumate artist as well as an admired teacher, this exhibit presents works on loan to the museum from the artist's family. The works bear some influence of the domestic scenes of Pierre Bonnard, yet apply her own genius in color orchestration and personality. The painting at the right is one of two works wherein the artist poses famous female figures skimmed from throughout history as though gathered across time to a casual conversation around a luscious repast.