Artwork Celebrating the 125th Anniversary of Utah’s Statehood – “Thrive 125”
Commission Criteria
Near and dear to my heart, this commission involved creating a work of art to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Utah’s statehood. The criteria for this milestone commemorative included portraying the many people who have shaped Utah, our relationships to each other, to the nation as a whole, and to the diverse and storied land. The art would then be featured in an online exhibition on the Thrive 125 website along with works by thirteen other commissioned artists and creatives.
Inspiration
I love the state of Utah. This significant anniversary of its statehood offered an opportunity to explore a symbolic visual story that conveyed an emotional sense of thriving in a work of art utilizing elements from nature and the human form. Transforming the everyday into a source of beauty and meaning is always my intention when creating a work of art, and celebrating 125 years of statehood inspired me to appreciate anew the beauty found in the unique diversity that is ours through the land, the flora and fauna, the people, and how we have changed through history. Utah has amazing and varied landscapes which are stunningly beautiful, having been shaped by time, climate, and geological shifts. The plants and animals that flourish in our state are also a source of visual inspiration to me, from the elk that make our mountains their home to the wildflowers of the red rock desert.
The Process
I called upon my own experiences of living in Utah my entire life to establish my focus for the commission, then researched specific details I could incorporate to bring even greater vitality to the work. In this art I have included imagery of our diverse and varied people, and some of the natural symbols of our state such as the beehive and honeybees, California gull, Rocky Mountain elk, sego lily, quaking aspen, cherries, Spanish sweet onion, Indian ricegrass, and Bonneville cutthroat trout. My artistic vision is focused on symbolic portrayals of interconnection, unity, nature, and the grace and joy of everyday life.
The Reveal
It was exciting to see my artwork on the The Thrive125 website along with each of the other thirteen artist’s unique portrayals. The site features not only the visual artist’s response to this theme, but also writings, stories, historical photos, podcasts, recordings, and other engaging ways to learn about the history of Utah from 1896 to present day. The commissioning agents were The Utah Department of Cultural and Community Engagement and Thrive 125 in partnership with the Utah Division of Arts & Museums.
