REMEMBERING SUSAN SWARTZ’S SOLO EXHIBITION AT THE UTAH MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS

Susan’s recent solo exhibition at the Springville Museum of Art brings to mind her first showing of the Natural Revelations exhibition at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts (UMFA) in 2008. Wrote UMFA museum director, David Dee: “While grounded in the real world of nature, Susan Swartz’s work also connects us to the pure energy and devotion to color that have characterized abstract art from the mid twentieth century.”

The UMFA exhibition ran January through April 2008, and the opening reception was a major gala fundraiser dedicated to expanding the museum’s exhibition and acquisitions program. “This was my first museum solo showing,” recalls Susan. “The highlight for me was the success of the opening reception fundraiser. I am glad my work could help create further support for the UMFA.” Then Utah Governor Jon Huntsman gave the opening remarks, while Keith Lockhart, musical director for the Utah Symphony and conductor for the Boston Pops, acted as master of ceremonies. Dean William Graham from the Harvard Divinity School also spoke at the black tie gala.

David Dee sums up the exhibition in the forward to Natural Revelations: “Susan Swartz creates art that expresses her deep love of her craft, or nature, or the spiritual—and inspires us, as viewers, to pause and take stock of our own relationship to the earth, to the divine and to future generations that will inherit the globe we have inhabited.”