Artists at work interact with museumgoers
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Visitors to museums typically experience the beauty of artistic creation, but rarely do they have a chance while there to interact with the creators.
But visitors did just that at the Church History Museum's Feb. 26 event, "Artists at Work: the Spirit of Art." It was the second such event held by the museum, wherein visitors observed the artists crafting their creations and, while doing so, had opportunity to chat with them.
For example, David Habben could be seen in the museum's theater, creating a storybook illustration of father Lehi, Nephi and rebellious brothers Laman and Lemuel, not at a specific moment in time, but rather in a manner to convey the aspects of their individual characters and how they related as members of the family. This was done on a computer, using a newer version of the Photoshop software. The computer image was projected onto a large screen, so that spectators could watch Brother Habben's creation come to life as he told about his craft.
In response to a question, he said he does most of his work on a computer these days because of its versatility in allowing him to make alterations as he works on a project, doing layer upon layer.
Asked about the advantages of doing it on a computer as opposed to doing it by hand, he said, "I can't think of any major disadvantages," though he still uses pens, brushes and a sketch pad. People are still getting used to the fact that good art can be created on a computer.
Julie Rogers, creating a portrait in pastels, said she has worked many years in oils and watercolors, but her favorite medium is whatever she happens to be using at the moment. Her subject on this night was heroic Mormon handcart pioneer Ann Malin, and her model, dressed in pioneer costume, was a descendant of Sister Malin.
Sister Rogers told of Ann Malin, who cooked for the men in the Hunt wagon train that was accompanying the ill-fated Martin handcart company. "She prayed that her mouth would be shut so she would not eat the food the men could eat," Sister Rogers said.
Not far from Sister Rogers, Al Rounds was painting with watercolors. A creator of many Church history subjects in Nauvoo and elsewhere, Brother Rounds told of being present for the location shooting of a documentary movie about the handcart pioneers, "Trail of Hope." Producer Lee Groberg had invited him and other artists to experience the weather and ambiance of the movie location at Martin's Cove in Wyoming.
Brother Rounds told of being clad in seven layers of clothing. "All you had to do is get one little hole where the wind would start to get in, and that's all it would take to make you cold," he said.
Being there, he learned how to depict the adverse conditions. The pioneers' wet clothing would freeze. Though the wind at that location blows violently, that cannot be depicted by showing windblown fabric, as the clothing would have been frozen. It must be done in other ways, such as a wisp of hair or a pigtail that was not quite frozen, or by showing windblown snow.
"You would never know those kinds of things unless you were up there," he said.
Asked why his work seems so vibrant, he said his college training was as an oil painter, and that though he works in watercolors, he thinks like an oil painter, using heavy pigments and such.
Other artists featured at the museum event were Tom Holdman (stained glass), Brian Kershisnik (painting), Elizabeth Peterson (bobbin lace), Kraig Varner (sculpture) and Blanche Wilson (woodblock).
