The
2005 Winter Mormon Arts Foundation Retreat
By
Greg Hansen
The end of January, my wife and I entered the conference
room at Salt Lake’s Little America Hotel not sure what to
expect, since it had been years since we had attended
a Mormon Arts Foundation gathering. There was some mention
made of discussions, showings of new works, keynote speakers
and such, but what I really wondered was if such a gathering
of incredibly passionate working professionals in the
five artistic disciplines could result in anything other
than a clash of raging egos.
Just
the ongoing public discussion on Meridian Magazine about
the arts had generated substantial commentary and fiery
opinions. But by the time the overnight retreat was over,
our initial fears would be completely drowned in an overpowering
sense of inspiration, camaraderie, unity and goodwill
among some of the most sincere, humble and earnestly creative
people in the church.
Notable names were everywhere, and all were people who
made all or most of their living with their art: in music,
theater, film, visual arts or writing. They were people
whose testimony of Christ was etched out in sound, film,
words or paint on a daily basis, then held up to praise
or ridicule of an audience. Courageous people who wear
their lives on their sleeves.
But this was a place to recharge, to nourish one another,
and to do so without any inkling of competition. Everyone
there had spent long years of suffering to get where they
were, and everyone had paid the price many times over
for the privilege of doing art for a living.
Considering the role of the working LDS artist in creating
hope, sending positive messages and countering the amoral
climate that exists in the media industry was one focus
of this year’s MAF Retreat. There were many other hard
subjects discussed, and you can be sure that no one questions
artists harder than they do themselves. Amid the frank
discussions and insightful answers, came a sense of unity
that could not be created without this intentional mingling
of people from numerous separate artistic disciplines.
This kind of gathering just wouldn’t happen across the
arts without the constant effort of Doug Stewart, playwright
and founder of the Mormon Arts Foundation, and the generous
donors who provided the accommodations and dining at no
cost to the participants.
History
of the Festival
The Mormon Arts Festival began in 1995, at Tuacahn, in
Ivins, Utah, a memorably inspiring facility hugging the
red rock canyons of Southern Utah. It evolved from a festival
there to BYU, eventually becoming large and unwieldy,
when the founders decided to make a change.
“We decided that we needed to return to it’s original
mission-to refocus back to those who were LDS working
professionals, and to encourage and nurture them in the
creation and presentation of works that are virtuous,
lovely, of good report or praiseworthy.” said board member
Robert Paxton.
To do that, they scaled back to a by-invitation-only approach,
making it possible to have a sponsor support the endeavor.
Thus about seventy people at a time could come and enjoy
the retreat. Each event rotates participants to
include a majority of artists who were there for the first
time.
In addition to the inspiring keynote address by well-known
musician and BYU vice-president, Newell Dayley, the frank
discussions, Ken Harris’ presentation and great dining,
the “Show and Tell” events were intriguing.
Each
invited artist’s presentation showed an amazing breadth
of individuality, high skill level, and artistic expression.
We were awed by the variety and depth of the individuals
and their work.
The
"Show and Tell" Portion
My
compatriot Earl Madsen was asked to head up the current
project presentations, or “Show and Tell” portion
of the event. He describes a sampling of some of the works
shown as follows:
"As I sat down to write about a few of the wonderful
works we saw and heard during the two-day retreat, this
story came to mind.
"The story is told of a woman that loved to read.
From her earliest childhood memories, she loved books
and reading. As a young woman she had made an oath
with herself that she would finish any book she began;
she would read it cover to cover. One afternoon
she settled into her favorite chair with a book from an
author she had never read before. Before the hour
was up she knew she did not like the book. Perhaps
the worst book she had ever read. Vowing to keep
her oath, she labored the next several days to finish.
Once done, she shoved the volume on a high shelf in her
library declaring it trite, silly and very boring; without
purpose or merit. Indeed the worst book she had
ever read.
"A short time later she found herself at a fashionable
social gathering. The finest in the community were
in attendance. She soon found herself in a conversation
with a man she had never met before. She found him
amusing, articulate, well read and very interesting.
Perhaps one of the finest persons she had ever met.
Sometime into the conversation he asked if she had ever
read the book she had recently dismissed as nearly unreadable.
Measuring her words carefully she answered yes, she had.
With delight he introduced himself as the author, then
devoted the remainder of the conversation to her and her
life pursuits.
"That night she went home and rescued his book from
the dust and clutter of the top shelf and began to read.
The beauty of the prose, the depth of the characters and
the wisdom of the story quickly took her in. She
read through the night, unable to stop. She finished
reading as the light of morning broke through her windows.
She found a prominent space in the library and placed
the book in it; then declared, that without a doubt, that
this was the finest book she had ever read.
"Artists and producers from five artistic disciplines
were invited to the retreat—Literature, Visual Art Film,
Music and Theater. Each discipline was allotted
a total of 20 minutes to showcase works. I have
chosen to highlight one artists or work from each discipline.
"The story I related at the beginning became a little
more my story, particularly as I thought about works from
disciplines I don’t have day to day contact with, namely
Visual Arts, Theater and Literature.
Visual Arts
"For years I have loved Robert Marshall’s
compelling landscapes. They are often reminders
of the adventures of my youth when our family would load
up in the station wagon, and later the not so mini-van,
and visit places like Vernal or St. George and Pine Valley
or Mesquite (long, long before the casino’s and the golf
courses). Who hasn’t been moved at one time or another
by scenes from the life of Christ from the brush of Del
Parson.
by Brian Kershisnik
But
after the retreat weekend I find myself reflecting back
on the images and explanations by Brian Kershisnik.
My mother was born and raised in 'the South”, North Carolina
to be exact, and my grandparents lived for many years
in Georgia. During a visit to North Carolina several
years ago I met a cousin that is a folk artist, she does
amazing things with scissors, and discovered that I had
ancestors that were artists—woodcarving, painting, embroidery,
quilting etc. Brian’s style, I’d call it Contemporary
Americana/Folk, choice of subjects and use of color remind
me of the wonderful and simple perspectives on life created
by people I hope to meet someday. And, I was taken
in by his description and the images from his painting
called “Multitude in the Valley of Decision.”'
An
impressive 20 foot long work that must be experienced
to fully appreciate it’s wonder. You can get taste
of Brian’s work at www.kershisnik.com.
Theater
"I
have never been to a play by writer/actor J. Scott Bronson,
but that will change, soon. With the help of fellow
actors Kathryn Laycock Little and Elwon Bakly,
Scott presented a scene from his play Stones.
A skilled playwright, Scott has written everything from
romantic comedy to serious drama. Stones falls
into the latter category. I have spent several days
now looking for the words that will do justice to the
experience.
"The
scene presented is an exchange between Jesus, prior his
declaration of his divinity and ministry, and his mother,
Mary. The occasion was the death of Joseph.
Engaging, moving, compelling, comforting, hopeful, significant
and insightful only hint at the experience. This was
made all the more potent knowing of Scott’s own experience
with life threatening cancer. I eagerly await and
e-mail or phone call telling me of an upcoming performance.
Literature
"With the popularity of his Children of
the Promise, Hearts of the Children series,
author Dean Hughes has become a household name. I must
confess, historical fiction is not my first choice of
fiction genres; but there’s a first for everything.
Dean read a passage from an upcoming volume in the Hearts
of the Children series. It was while I was sitting
in an “interdisciplinary” breakout discussion that what
Dean had read the day before became much more meaningful
for me. First, despite a lack of encouragement from
his academic colleagues, he persevered—and thousands are
better for it. Second, while most of us attending
the retreat were there with our spouse, Dean was not.
His wife, Kathy, was away on an assignment as First Counselor
in the Relief Society General Presidency. I found
his commitment to both her calling and his craft motivation
to seek out his work.
Music
"With a soothing and beautiful harp and woodwind
recording of Newell Dayley’s beloved children’s hymn I
Feel My Savior’s Love filling the room, composer,
arranger and producer Greg Hansen came to the podium with
a copy of the beautiful songbook 60 Favorite Hymns.
Greg oversaw the compiling and arranging of the impressive
book. The recording we were listening to was taken directly
from one of the pieces found in 60 Favorite Hymns.
As we listened Greg explained that the book was created
as a tool for worship and to help enhance the spirit in
Church meetings, and an all around music resource.
Great for prelude music, wonderful arrangements for vocal
solo’s and choirs, many instrumental arrangements for
piano, piano and violin, organ, even a string trio arrangement.
60 Favorite Hymns is a wonderful work for the eye,
the ear and the soul. http://inspirationalldsmusic.com/
Film
"I found it very difficult to pick just one
highlight from the film category. Each participant
brought something very different and compelling.
Grant Baird has spent his filmmaking career telling stories
and communicating ideas in sixty seconds, or less.
Next time you’re watching TV and, during a commercial
break, you watch as a burley workman comes to the phone
to sing “Eencie Weencie Spider” to his young daughter
at home, with his work buddies listening in you've experienced
the vision and skill of Grant Baird. He is also responsible
for the Homefront spot where
an elderly African-American women gives a quarter to a
gruff, scruffy, very ornery motorcycle gang member in
need.
The
Mormon Arts Foundation retreat reminded us all that the
arts are taking off amidst the Latter-day Saints.
