On Thursday, Sept. 5, First Lady Abby Cox will unveil a new painting by Artist Ben Steele, of Helper, at the Governor’s Mansion. The acquisition, part of the 125th anniversary celebration of the Utah Division of Arts & Museums, will be featured in a live stream celebration.
Steele’s piece, “For the Creation of a State Institute of Art,” is an oil painting on canvas and was selected for the state’s art collection by the First Lady. Elements of the piece include a “Votes for Women” pin, to mark the significance Utah women had in the women’s suffrage movement, and a nod to “Black Rock,” a painting by JT Harwood that was the first artwork acquired by the state.
Follow this link to listen to First Lady Abby Cox’s podcast interview with Ben Steele and Victoria Bourns, director of UA&M.
As the nation’s first state arts agency, UA&M has provided support and resources to Utah’s cultural community since 1899, when the agency was created by legislator Alice Merrill Horne. The agency acts as a coordinator and resource hub for arts and museum communities.
The State of Utah Alice Merrill Horne Art Collection is one program managed by the agency. Launched in 1899, the state art collection now consists of more than 2,500 artworks including ceramics, paintings, sculptures, and mixed media. Works in the collection are available in a searchable database, while many pieces can be viewed in person at various state-owned buildings including the Utah State Capitol building and the Scott Matheson Courthouse.
As part of the 125th anniversary, the agency selected works from the State of Utah Alice Merrill Horne Art Collection as part of a traveling exhibition. “125 Years of Collecting,” showcases a small selection of artworks collected over the decades, from artworks illustrating the state’s early history to more recent acquisitions of art created by living artists. In addition, a curated collection of pieces for the 125th anniversary will be featured at the Utah Valley University Museum of Art in December.
UA&M will be sharing exclusive inside coverage from the Governor’s Mansion event. The public is invited to participate in Thursday’s live stream celebration via Facebook. Additional information on 125th anniversary activities can be found at https://artsandmuseums.utah.gov/125th-anniversary/.