SPRINGVILLE MUSEUM OF ART HOSTS 43RD ANNUAL ART BALL Over 800 people enjoyed an evening of fine dining, dancing and art as they attended the 43rd Annual Art Ball at the Springville Museum of Art, Saturday, May 16th. “I didn’t realize something this amazing was right here in this area,” Alison Ko, a BYU student from Twin Falls, Idaho said. From the delicious catering by A Vikings Feast, to the sultry sounds of Jazz, dancing under the stars andenjoying the 85th Annual Spring Salon, the Ball had something for everyone.The Silent Auction featured over 50 items donated by local artists, Marie Osmond, Stampin' Up, CR Graphics. Zermatt Resort, Hal Wing and many more. Donors such as Central Bank & Trust, Mark & Nikki Comer, Far West Bank, Dr. Mark & Wendy Fullmer and others made the event possible. The event, which was planned by a committee of local volunteers and Museum Staff, celebrated the opening of the newly-completed Stewart Sculpture Garden at the Museum. The theme for the night was, “The Enchanted Garden: Art is Growing.” The Art Ball Committee, chaired by Dr. Wendell & Carol Gadd of Springville, worked tirelessly for months planning for the success of the Ball. Surrounded by stunning works of art, patrons enjoyed the lilting sounds of the Utah Musix Quartet and the Kristie Arnold Jazz Ensemble, while enjoying delicious food catered by A Vikings Feast. The evening also featured the century-old traditional of crowning Art Royalty. There has been an Art Queen in Springville for longer than there has been a Miss America, as the community has crowned Art Royalty for 102 years. Tarisa Brown, 2008 Art Queen, dazzled the audience by playing the bassoon and the piano simultaneously. After her performance, the candidates for 2009 art royalty were presented and Alyssa Packard was announced as the new queen along with others who will serve with her as art royalty. The winners of the Spring Salon awards were also announced. Wendy Chidester, an artist from Draper, won the top award for her modern painting. Chidester said she likes to resurrect old things and put them on a pedestal through her art. “I like taking objects people have forgotten about and making them come to life,” Chidester said. Chidester also said she appreciates how the Art Ball brings people from all around the state together in appreciation of art. “The Art Ball is a great event,” Chidester said. “It exposes high school kids and the community to the arts.” Many students attended the festive event, including students from local high schools and universities. Thuy Nguyen, a student at the University of Utah from Vietnam, said the event was fantastic. “It’s great to come here to celebrate,” Nguyen said. “Everything is so beautiful.” Nguyen’s friend, Dan Parker from Salt Lake, said he was apprehensive about coming to the Museum at first but was pleasantly surprised. He said a fun event like the Art Ball helps him appreciate art he normally wouldn’t see. But more than the art, he enjoyed the party. “The sculpture garden is amazing,” Parker said. “It’s a great atmosphere for a party and the arts.” Local residents especially enjoyed the event.Steve and Freddie Lou Boice from Springville haven’t attended the ball for several years but decided to attend again this year and were surprised at the changes the museum has recently undergone. “The garden is so beautiful,” Freddie Lou said. “This is a really nice event.” With the backdrop of beautiful art, people danced to the music provided by live bands. Karen Horne, an artist in the 85th Annual Spring Salon, enjoyed the diverse music provided on the two dance floors. “They even played a tango,” Horne said. But the night wasn’t just about revelry. Many people said they left the Museum inspired. Doug Smoot, a long-time supporter of the Museum, was raised in Springville, and attended junior high school and high school near the Museum during the Great Depression and World War II. He said through difficult times the Museum provided personal strength. “In those difficult times we didn’t even have a calendar with a picture on it to look at,” Smoot said. “This gallery has inspired me for my entire life.”
