Celebrating its 84th year, the Springville Museum of Art's Annual Spring Salon received nearly a thousand entries from Utah artists for the third consecutive year.¬ Two hundred and eighty three of the works entered were accepted into the exhibition.

Based on the large quantity and high quality, the jurying process proved difficult. The salon has become very competitive, with a standard of excellence that is being raised year after year.¬ 

The success of the salon rests on its promotion of diversity and variety in both style and artist experience.¬ From the artist just beginning his or her career to the established artist, one or two works may be entered into the show by all Utah artists.

In addition, the 100 "Most Honored Artists of Utah" are guaranteed at least one work selected.¬ This encourages a wide range of technique, medium and artistic approach in the salon entries.¬ 

To enhance the interest in variety, the eight museum galleries reserved for the exhibition are arranged by style, medium and award winners.¬ 

As in years past, this year's salon is balanced as much as possible in the exhibition's four primary areas of artistic concern: Modernism/Post-Modernism, Traditional/Impressionism, Visionary and Assemblage/Conceptual.

Within these areas, Juror Paul McCormack, award-winning New York State artist, and Juror Emily Stauffer, Salt Lake curator and appraiser, were well-qualified for completing the intimidating task of selecting the accepted works and one first place, two second place and three third place award winners.¬ Three Directors Awards were given, as well as 50 Merit Awards selected by jurors and museum staff.¬ 

Merit Award Winner Sean Thomas Diediker's oil painting "The Unseen Collection" includes the museum's Director, Vern G. Swanson, showing a gallery of blank framed canvases to a group of patrons. The amazing story of the 'Blank Canvases' shown in the Hermitage Museum of St. Petersburg Russia forms the basis for the artists painting.

The story can be found in the director's latest book "Soviet Impressionist Painting."

Juror's First Place Awardee Justin J. Taylor painted an excellent multiple-figured depiction of an introspective girl in split-second images in "Clarity at the End of Things."¬ ¬ 

With accepted works including lyrical and photo-realistic portraiture, pastoral and idyllic landscape, fine still life, grand sculpture and signature Utah landscape photography and painting, it's unsurprising that the show represents the best in contemporary Utah fine art.¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ 

Modeled after the famous annual Paris Salon, the first Spring Salon at the museum was held in 1921.¬ As the Salon in Paris was the premiere art event in the world, the Springville Museum of Art's Spring Salon has become the premiere annual art exhibition of Utah.¬  With such diversity and tradition, the Salon literally has "a little something for everyone" coming to enjoy and experience the museum.

Long-time SMA volunteer Grace Alleman put it best, "I have been to many salons, from Utah to New York, and they're all nice, but this one has heart to it."¬ 

The 84th Annual Spring Salon will be on display at the Springville Museum of Art through July 6, 2008. Admission is free. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday 10-5, Wednesday 10-9 and Sunday 3-6.