Art plays a key role in Springville history
Mandy Snyder crosses the finish line for team Snyder during the Duct Tape Regatta on Saturday, June 13, 2015. The regatta event was held for the grand opening of Bartholomew Park in Springville and in correlation with the Art City Days celebration. SAMMY JO HESTER, The Daily Herald
Sabrina Arredondo, left, paints Arianna Cox's face during the 2013 Art City Days in Springville.
It isn’t often that one sees the impact of a well-intentioned gesture evolve into an expanding city tradition.
But that is precisely what happened in 1903 when the generosity of two renowned artists planted a seed that sprung into an art culture.
Cyrus E. Dallin, best known for his sculpture of Paul Revere, and well-known impressionistic landscape artist John Hafen had concerns that art was getting sequestered to a dark corner in area schools. In an effort to ignite interest in their industry, both men decided to donate two of their works to Springville High School.
In 1907, local Utah artists such as James T. Fairbanks, James T. Harwood and Mahonri M. Young furthered the cause by contributing works on their own to the high school. The kind donations of these men ingrained in the students of Springville High School an appreciation for creativity and artistic expression, which resulted in the student body generating funds to purchase art pieces to form a collection of their own.
The most notable fundraiser was the “Art Queen” competition. Each student would pay one penny per vote. The girl with the most votes was crowned Springville High School’s Art Queen, and the money was used to purchase artwork for the emerging museum.
By 1937, Springville City played host to Utah’s first art museum, and the connection with art was secured. Utah’s “Art City” is home to The Springville Museum of Art, which houses a permanent collection spanning 150 years worth of local contemporary art, 20th century Soviet realist art and American art. Today, the museum has expanded to include the George S. and Delores Dore Eccles Wing and the Sam and Diane Stewart Sculpture Garden.
In celebration of tradition, the students and teachers of Springville High School host a Spring Salon every year to promote local artists. Now in its 92nd year, this year’s Annual Spring Salon runs from April 20 to July 9, 2016, and will showcase the diverse talent of Utah’s most promising contemporary artists.
Springville City is also proud to host the annual Art City Days that attracts thousands of art lovers and general lovers of fun to enjoy the carnival, fireworks, the grand parade, a 5K race, food of all shapes and flavors, and the uplifting (literally) BalloonFest, among many other events. This year’s Art City Days will begin June 4 and end June 11.
As a city, Springville has come a long way from its humble beginnings as the Hobble Creek homestead for some of the area’s early settlers and their horses, but if one could paint a picture of a place that promotes positive cultural values, creative expression, and celebrates the artistic beauty of life — welcome to Springville.
For events information for the upcoming Springville Art City Days visit www.springville.org/art-city-days.