Plein Air Exhibition
Sept. 8 through Nov. 3, 2018
During the Brigham City Museum’s Plein Air Exhibition, every corner visitors turn in the gallery they will experience the immensity and power of Utah’s landscapes. The scenic paintings will be on display Sept. 8 through Nov. 3. Admission is free.
The museum is located at 24 North 300 West. 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.
Painting in “plein air,” a French term for painting outdoors, is a flourishing trend in the art world as was evident in the strong response to the museum’s juried exhibition. All ages submitted artworks for the competition. Purchase prizes totaling up to $3,000 were awarded. Sponsors are Niagara Bottling, Hansen Jewelry Co., Hansen Motor Co., ABC Construction, Nucor, Wahlen Dentistry and (anonymous) in memory of Elenora “Nora” Henrietta Kotter Biddulph..
Juror for the competition was Lydia Gravis, Shaw Gallery Director at Weber State University. Gravis has a Bachelor of Arts in painting and drawing and a Master of Fine Arts in visual art. She selected the following for awards: Allen Brockbank, Centerville, First Place for “Sanpete Serenade”; G. Russell
Case, Brigham City, Second Place for “Willard Morning”; and Isaac Brockbank, Perry, Third Place for “Misty Afternoon.”
Gravis chose Allen Brockbank’s painting for an award because his “composition and linear perspective evokes curiosity in the viewer. The artwork gives a sense of nostalgia for rural America through lighting as well as depicting an old house, buildings and a dirt road. The work conveys a sense of quiet and simplicity.”
The juror singled out Case for honors because his piece “conveys that satisfying sense of color one feels with the golden light that happens in the morning. He took a simple composition and brought the scene to life through color and handling of paint.”
Gravis picked Isaac Brockbank’s artwork for recognition because it “portrays the scene we’ve been inundated with lately – smoky skies! Also, the scene gives the viewer a sense of calm which is achieved through composition, color scheme, warm underpainting and small size of canvas.”
The juror also recognized the following artists for Merit awards: Ava Hanson, Perry, “Better to Look Up, Willard Peak”; Glori Alsop, Fielding, “Motley Volunteers”; Frank Wixom, Brigham City, “Morning Light”; Leonard Hawkes, Beaver Dam, “Near Cache Junction”; Marian Pham, Layton, “Backyard Sunset”; and Bridget Smith, Sandy, “Soldier’s Hollow.”
The museum purchased the following artworks (Purchase Prize): “Sanpete Serenade” by Allen Brockbank; “Soldiers Hollow” by Bridget Smith, “Autumn Starts” by Marian Pham, “Along the Skyline Drive” by Allen Brockbank and “From Peterson Park” by Leonard Hawkes.
Some of the scenes artists captured on canvas and paper as they crisscrossed the state are a horizon tinged with pinks and oranges, meandering streams of changing hues, mountains wrapped in luminous clouds, trees flaunting their lush green finery and sun-warmed bundles of hay. The artists played with different colors, textures and perspective. Painting outdoors is always challenging because of the rapid change of the sun and the shadows.
***Article written by Mary Alice Hobbs
Caption for photos:
“Sanpete Serenade” by Allen Brockbank, Centerville
“Willard Morning” by G. Russell Case, Brigham City
“Motley Volunteers” by Glori Alsop, Fielding
“Backyard Sunset” by Marian Pham, Layton
