Usher in the holiday season with a visit to the Springville Museum of Art! the Annual Spiritual & Religious Show is now on exhibit through Dec. 27. This juried exhibition explores the varied spiritual aspirations, feelings and perceptions of contemporary Utah artists through many different styles and mediums.

Out of 271 works entered by artists, 135 were chosen to be in the show. Jessica Weiss, sssistant curator at the muiseum, said, "Juried exhibitions such as this one afford younger artists an opportunity to gain recognition and exhibit their work alongside more experienced artists."

This exhibition provides a well rounded and unique experience to viewers.

The nature of this exhibition allows artists to create and display works that have a deeper meaning, and share these meditations with the public.

"Most artists hesitate to put their deepest spiritual selves on the line in a work of art. They normally rely upon artistic conventions, so it is gratifying to see so many of Utah's best, working in this area," said Museum Director Dr. Vern G. Swanson.

Artist Kirsten Barnhill, a 2nd year participant in the show, explains that her art "...has to be inspired, and come from a feeling within or it can't happen."

This year 28 of the works entered where chosen to receive special awards. Among these pieces is "Gethsemane" a stunning symbolic work in oil, with accents of metal leaf by J. Kirk Richards, which won the Director's Award.

Wulf Barsch's "The Labrynth or The Book of Walking Forth by Day" an energetic, metaphysically oriented oil painting on canvas, received the 1st Place Award.

The 2nd and 3rd Place Awards were given to the beautiful and carefully rendered "Emblems" an oil on canvas by Chris Young, and "Ascending" a touching three-dimensional figurative work of a mother and child in hydrostone by Leroy Glenn Transfield.

The Spiritual & Religious Show provides a worthwhile opportunity to view art work of a religious nature this holiday season.

Also on display are "Soviet Art in Conflict: The Artist as an Agent of Social Change," and "Courtroom Art: A Twenty Five Year Retrospective." Museum hours are: Tuesday to Saturday 10-5, Wednesday 10-9, Sunday 3-6. Closed Mondays and holidays. Open the first Monday of each month from 6 to 8 p.m. for Community & Family Night. Admission is free. For more Information: 801-489-2727 or www.smofa.org.