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Show In the Public Salt Lake Countycollection is oneofthestate’s most admired — andleast noticed — art treasures Paintings for the people By Curisty Kargas The Salt Lake Tribune salt Lake County art collection is Every day, hundredsof people wander through the Salt Lake Countybuildings at the corner of 2100 SouthandState Street. Most are on their way to workor there to conduct some mannerof dull government business. open to public viewing during office hours at buildings throughout the county. Most of the works are at the county office complex, 2001 S. State St @ For information on tours or a copy of the newcatalog, contact Victoria Bourns at 468-3517 or vbourns®co.sic.utus. It is likely few of them know the monetaryor spiritual value of the artworks they pass along the way. Since the mid-1980s, when the countyfirst allocated a percentage of construction funds to buy art for public display, the coun- ty’s art collection has blossomed from a few dozen works be queathed fromearlier decades to about 440 pieces.Its breadth and quality make it one of Utah's more impressive, but possibly least noticed, collections in the state. “It's the single place where youcan see the most Utah art ap all the time. That's a great thing forall the citizens who wantto go there,” said David Ericson, a former memberof the committee that chose the county art and nowagallery ownerin Salt Lake City. County officials and members of the county’s art advisory board hope a newcatalog, published last month, will helpcitizens take notice of the treasures lining thewalls of county offices. ‘Thefirst in 10years, it contains a list of collected works, photographs and articles by Utah art experts. It was funded through donations; county residents can pick up a free copy at county offices. janitor’s hands,” Swansonsaid. “The county collection is, in my opinion, the key collection for showing howcountiescan doit.” More than anything, Swanson says, the collection is the re- collections. But Salt Lake Coun ty’s stands outforits excellence, said Vern Swanson,director of the Springville Art Museum. He said such collections don't get muchattention until they reach a certain size, “The Salt Lake County collection has reached that point. It's no longer in the collection... [is] no longerinthejanitor’s hands. The county collectionis, in my sult of committee members’ work over the past twodecades. Its quality was guaranteed by the collective knowledge and opinion, the key collectionfor showing howcounties cando it.” aesthetics of the members, who include some Utah art heavyweights: University of Utah pro- fessors, art collectors, gallery owners such as Robert Olpin, Mary Francey, Marcia Price, Clayton Williams, George Dibble andPatricia Kimball. Although the county already collection, clockwise from above, include John Erickson’s nostaigic acrylic “Beef Basin Derelict”; Howell Rosenbaum’soil “North it didn’t begin buying art regularly until the Utah Legislature passedalaw allowing thestate to allocate up to 1 percent ofits construction budget for art. Other entities, including the county, followed suit shortly thereafter. Among counties, Salt Lake’s collection is by far the largest. When the law was adopted, the county was building the office space it occupies now. With its newfound funds, the commit tee searched the state for appro- Ogden Barn,” one of many paintingsin the collection that depict Utah scenes; and JohnB. Mortensen’s “Tim,” one of several bronzesin the county collection. lacked climate control. Thesizeof the countyoffices’ spaces generally called for large works, Ericson said. “An 8-by 10-inch thing wouldgetlost. Thecollection, made up en tirelyof Utahart, contains many of thestate’s biggest names, from MahonriYoung to Lee Deffebach to V. Douglas Snow museum-quality work: said county art specialist Victoria It crosses boundaries of style Bourns, though choices were tional landscapes to bright abstracts and of medium, with predicted oils and watercolors dictated somewhat by the coun. ty’s space, which is not quite museumquality. Members had to select items that wouldn't be destroyed in buildings that with everything from tradi butalso textiles, bronzes andceramics. “Wethought it was an opportunity to involve as many ORTal ea ara e General & Cosmetic Dentistry New / Clean / High Tech All Digital X-Rays, 90% Less Radiation VERH SWANSON Springville Art Museum director eons Worksin the Salt Lake County hadsomeworksinits collection, priate works. “The goal of the committee was to select Many public entities haveart “The Salt Lake County y funds. This spring, Democrats complained when the Legisla ture pulled arts funding from artists in the community as we could,” Ericksonsaid. million more thanfour times what the county paid forit at Some of the works have spurred complaints frompeople largely wholesale prices. That is a good return on investment Ericson said. “It’s a wonderful who thought they wereinappropriate(including, at one point, a painting of turkeys that once hung outside the County ( m mn chambers), but most part, the collection has been widely praised, Bourns said. Some of the works weregiven to the county by donors or artists use of public funds it attractive for those who don't has been a hot issue for some legislators and arts advocates in recent years. ‘Two years ago, the state temporarily suspended the 1 percent program, citing lackof want their donations hidden Thecollection's total valueis estimated at more than $1.5 Bourns said. She wouldlike to hat change. “We'vejust got When it was passed, the 1 per cent provision met with some complaints from people who didn't like the idea of someone mone stae deciding how their would be spent. tax At the level, funding for public ar eople to think aboutit a little more” when planning buildings, she said. “It really makes a difference in the facili and it’s a great way to in- volve the community Ericson agrees. “Taxes are for services. And I just lookat it and say, that’s one of the great: est services our county can do for our citizens. It’s become an avenue to reach out and dis- cover our funny little society we live in. I thinkit’s the best useof public funds there is. FESTIVAL OPERA UTAH ¥ PALLos John W. Kwant D.D.S. George C. Hatsis D.D.S. 3970 South 700 East Unit #17 They else away standard, as thestate did, people in county governmentdon’t tend to notice or care as much when funding for art isn’t included, spent about a hair over one-half of 1 percent of the ey in the bond election {for county buildings] to do that themselves. Unlike mostgaller ies or museums,all theart in the collection is ondisplay, making some new buildings. Because the county oT adopted the 1 percent ideaas a LOAD Ce Loe Ete JULY 9 — AUG 9 eee Aseeds PLEASE ; ETS Utah In Repertory o at eam aeA UELe ) f ’ For tickets or a free brochure, Ce) 1H 800.262.0074 or visit: 3 www.arttix.org 0 “~ THE COMPLEX ROCK TOUR * ONE NIGHT ONLY! www.ufoc.org WITH GUEST VOCALIST TRACY BONHAM + SPECIAL GUESTS VENUS HUM AUGUST 4 @ ~ CYA ? The Theaterat =. Delta Center : The WizardofOr Agir eeohSe! a SEE ALL FOUR PRODUCTIONS IN TWO DAYS! |