Zion Art Podcast

Adam Thomas is a sculptor and professor of art. His new exhibition, “Creation, Expulsion, Redeption<“ is currently on view at the Jacob Spori Art Gallery at BYU Idaho. Exploring themes surrounding Adam and Eve, the Garden of Eden, and the subsequent relationship between God and man, the 27 works that make up the exhibition are the culmination of some 20 years of work.

Welcome to the Zion Art Podcast, dedicated to exploring the art and culture of Latter-day Saints through interviews with artists, collectors, and scholars. The podcast is presented by the Zion Art Society and hosted by me, Micah Christensen. Today, we are broadcasting a lecture given by the scholar Rebekah Ryan Clark, Historical Research Associate for Better Days 2020, an organization celebrating and educating the public on landmark moments in women’s suffrage. The subject of Rebekah Ryan Clark’s lecture is Alice Merrill Horne, a key figure in the suffrage movement and in the development of artistic institutions in the West, including several Museums, government programs, and the careers of artists like Minerva Teichert. The lecture begins with an introduction by the CEO of Better Days 200, Neylan McBaine.

An interview with Annette Everette , a nationally-award winning sculptor whose historical and religious works have been shown at the American Women Artists’ exhibition, the Springville Museum of Art’s Spring Salon and Spiritual & Religious shows, BYU Museum of Art and the Church’s International Exhibition, just to name a few. Annette Everette’s monuments of allegorical and historical figures can be found at universities, government memorials, and Church sites. She is one of the 90 artists invited to participate in the Certain Women Art Show.

A panel discussion — held as part of the Certain Women Art Show — with Dr. Rita Wright (Director of the Springville Museum of Art), Ashlee Whitaker (Roy and Carol Christensen Curator of Religious Art at BYU Museum of Art), Dr. Heather Belnap (Associate Professor and European Studies at Brigham Young University), and Hannah Miller (Temple Art Historian for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). Dr. Micah Christensen served as moderator for a discussion that explored Latter-day Saint women artists, past and present.

Pioneering new approaches to the ancient technique of encaustic, Shari Lyon is an artist who has spent much of her life nurturing the careers of others as much as her own. Dr. Micah Christensen talks to Shari about her many projects, travels, and latest work for the Certain Women Art Show.

Anne Marie Oborn's still life, landscape, figurative and religious paintings have gained national attention as a Signature Member of the Oil Painters’ of America and the American Academy of Women Artists. Locally, Oborn is a founding member of the Inspirational At Association and the Plein Air Painters of Utah. She is also a prolific illustrator for dozens of books and publications including, the Ensign, Liahona, His Gift — a collaboration with Richard Paul Evans — and numerous instructional materials for emerging artists.

Cassandra Barney and Emily McPhie are sisters and painters who each have thriving careers. They are also the daughters of the late James C. Christensen, an influential and pioneering artist who taught at Brigham Young University. In the interview, they discuss what it meant to grow up with an artist, how each developed her own separate aesthetics and working practices, and their works for the Church International Competition and Certain Women Art Show.

Tonya Vistaunet is an artist, entrepreneur, community organizer and overall doyenne of joyful color. Often partnership with her husband Steve, she creates pieces in wide range of media from fine art to coloring books, and murals. Tonya’s work has been accepted into countless shows, including multiple times to the Springville Museum’s Annual Spring Salon, the Spirituality & Religious Show, and the Church’s International Exhibition. Tonya is an advocate and organizer, playing a major role in teaching, supporting, and promoting artists and their work. She is participating in the Certain Women Art Show.

Annie Poon works in a huge array of media, from painting to sculpture, etching, and film. Her work has been shown on Nickelodeon, PBS, and at the National Gallery, Brooklyn Museum, New Museum, and Museum of Arts and Design.

In 2018, the Certain Women Art Show was the first exhibition held and dedicated exclusively to Latter-Day Saint Women artists. This year’s artist-organizers — Mary Brickey Cole, Laura Erekson Atkinson, and Nicole Woodbury — have more than doubled the size of the show by inviting 90 artists to create original works. In this interview, they discuss the process and intent behind the show. For more information about dates and locations, please visit certainwomenartshow.com, where you can also RSVP.

Ashlee Whitaker is the Head Curator and Roy & Carol Christensen Curator of Religious Art at the Brigham Young University Museum of Art and has just opened a new exhibition on renowned sculptor and artist Mahonri Young. We talk about the exhibition, Young’s life and remarkable circle of influence.

Opening May 3, Geilman’s show Works of Translation is a multi piece show featuring photos of her incredible works of art.

The Spring Salon was first held in 1922, begun by students and teachers of Springville High School who wanted to exhibit and promote original artwork. The Salon has been held annually since that time, except during World War II when fuel and other goods were rationed nationwide. This episode is a preview of the show. We were fortunate enough to walk through the Salon, see the award-winners and share some thoughts about each of them for you. You can view the 95th Spring Salon from Thursday April, 24 until July 6.

Every three years, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds an art competition spanning the globe and featuring works from members of the Church on a central theme. This year, we were please to be invited to an early viewing of the show and provide our reaction to the show and a number of works that stood out. In this special podcast episode, we dive into the show and the works, and as always would love to hear your thoughts on what stood out to you.

We are back from winter break for a sit down with Ben Hammond, who among other achievements was just awarded the commission to sculpt Martha Hughes Cannon for the US Capitol. The national competition pays homage to the trailblazing Cannon, the first woman to serve in the Utah State Legislature.

In this episode we sit down for a special conversation with Dr. Lisa DeLong, Outreach Programme Manager for the Prince's School in London, and a talented artist in her own right.

For months now, we have been tossing around the idea of taking this podcast in a new direction. As a result, Mormon Visual Culture is no more. Well, the name is changed. We are still going to bring regular interviews with artists, scholars and collectors, hopefuls much more regularly in the coming months. We are back. Tell your friends. Share the news.

A wonderful discussion with artist and sculptor extraordinaire Tyson Snow about his background and the very unique set of circumstances - including recently returning from The Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale - that had led him to be one of the most talented and educated sculptors of our day. From enormous monuments to beautiful desktop works, Tyson’s work in bronze is on view throughout the country, specifically in the West.

Brad Kramer is the owner of Provo's Writ & Vision, an art gallery and book store that has specialized in promoting both new and upcoming contemporary art and well-known artists outside of the typical canon of LDS art. His unique background and perspective lend to an interesting role in the arts community in Utah. The discussion looks at this background, his goals as a gallery owner, and some interesting experiences he has had as a gallery owner in the arts hub of the State

Artist and educator Justin Wheatley sits down with us to talk about art through criticism, process, creation, and marketing. His paintings have covered the spectrum from explicitly religious to decorative, but all of these works have shared a deep, personal meaning that transcends the architectural designs and scenes he depicts.