Big Sky

Our fascination with the sky began from a very early age. How many of us have asked the question “Why is the sky blue?” Throughout human history we have been drawn to the sky. Whether it's the stunning array of colors during a sunset or the imaginative forms cumulus clouds make - it captures our interest. The sky reminds us to keep moving, as it is never stagnant. It can ground us, offering a moment of peace or distraction when we need it. Day or night it echoes the passing of time.

One of the most famous and beloved paintings of all time features a sky. The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh is so beloved that out of roughly 900 of his works, it is the most widely mass produced. Appearing on everything from notebooks to socks, his sky continues to captivate and enchant audiences even after 100 years. Here in Southern Utah, the city of Ivins has passed Night Sky Initiative ordinances, protecting the night sky over the city of Ivins from light pollution. On a clear night in Ivins you can view approximately 3,000 stars.

‘Big Sky’ features a selection of artwork from our Museum’s permanent collection. One of the artists featured prominently in this exhibit, Charles Thomas, drew inspiration for painting the sky from the famously stunning sunsets of Arizona. Arizona is famous for its sunsets due to the dry climate and abundance of dust particles creating a spectacular array of colors. 

This exhibit encourages the audience to redirect their gaze to the incredible views we have right above us. We invite you to get lost in the wonder and beauty that is the sky. 

“The sky is the daily bread of the eyes” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Our Hidden World: A Study of Human Emotion by Audrey Taylor

All of us feel emotions. Emotions universally bind us as a part of the human experience. In the world of art, an artist can evoke emotions with their work, or share a glimpse into an emotional personal experience. Art can even be a therapeutic release. 

Emotions can be so overwhelming that simply sharing them is not enough to process, it can drive the need to create. Local artist Audrey Taylor delves into personal experiences and shares those emotional experiences with the viewer through her contemporary art. 

Deep introspection into one’s emotions can allow one to a place of self-awareness and a greater sense of empathy. The journey of emotional discovery through art is timeless, artists today join artists of the past, and of the future, as they seek their own revelation into what it means to feel. 

“True art lies in a reality that is felt.” – Odilon Redon

Day of the Dead

With parties, foods, drinks, and activities that the dead enjoyed while alive, Day of the Dead honors the  lives of the deceased. Día de los Muertos celebrates death as a natural, integral part of the human  experience. The dead are awoken from everlasting sleep on this celebratory day by those they love so  that they may rejoice and reconnect. 

For more information on our Day of the Dead exhibit, click here to be redirected to our Day of the Dead page.

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Who is Roland Lee?

Zion Skies was made by local artist Roland Lee. Lee is an internationally known watercolorist and acrylic painter. Lee graduated from Brigham Young University in 1971 with a degree in art. He focuses on transparent watercolor, a technique which does not use white, black, or opaque paints. As a member of the National Watercolor Society, Lee's illustrious career has spanned over fifty years. The St. George Art Museum is lucky to house several of his paintings. 

Roland Lee will be hosting our monthly Art Conversation in November 2022. For more information about this, please visit our Art Conversation page by clicking here.

Lee owns and operates a local gallery here in St. George, located at 165 North, 100 East, Suite 8. (Source 1) (Source 2)

How do watercolor paintings get preserved?

Watercolor art is always stored behind glass. Watercolor paint can break and bleed when exposed to high humidity, as the water in the air can start to leech into the thin paper. This is less of an issue with acrylic pieces, which are done on canvas, a thicker material that can more easily withstand changes in moisture levels. 

However, humidity and temperature control are a big deal for any and all preservation work. If a museum is too hot or too cold, the humidity levels will begin to shift. If something is too wet, it could start to mold. Too dry, and the paint might begin to crack, or canvases may start to shrink. In natural science museums, bone has to be kept at a consistent level of humidity, or else it, too, can crack in dry air. For this reason, museums of all kinds keep a strict eye on their heat and humidity levels. 

However, humidity and temperature control are a big deal for any and all preservation work. If a museum is too hot or too cold, the humidity levels will begin to shift. If something is too wet, it could start to mold. Too dry, and the paint might begin to flake, or canvases may start to shrink. Other materials, like bone and glass, can also become more brittle, or even crack, due to shifts in temperature and humidity. Here at the St. George Art Museum, we conduct twice-daily readings of our moisture levels in order to better facilitate our ability to preserve our artwork.

What is Batik?

Desert Sunset is a batik piece. “Batik” is an Indonesian form of dyeing cloth, originating on the island of Java. The batik process is achieved by putting wax onto the cloth using a tool called a tjanting, or “canting.” The wax resists dye, which allows parts of the fabric to be dyed selectively, allowing for a broad range of colors and patterns. 

National batik day is October 2nd. (Source)

Learn more about Audrey Taylor

Audrey Taylor is a multi-disciplinary studio artist living and working in St. George, UT. She specializes in abstract expressionist painting, and modern geometric sculpture. Her work can be seen at Arrowhead Gallery, Art Provides, Sunset Framer and Gallery, Caffe Elevato, and River Rock Roasting Co.

What motivates Audrey to create is a desire to “feel with” the viewer of her work. We all experience joy, rage, grief, stillness, etc--Audrey wants the viewer to see her art and know that someone out there has felt what they feel—even the hard feelings. She believes art is one of humanity's highest forms of connection and transcendence.

Originally from Phoenix, she has traveled all over the globe and lived with her husband and kids in Nicaragua, Hawaii, and Costa Rica.