M E R I D I A N     M A G A Z I N E

Mormon Arts Foundation Retreat Inspires and Delivers Results
By Greg Hansen

The 2007 Mormon Arts Foundation Biannual Retreat’s mission statement is to inspire and encourage Lat-ter-day Saint artists in the creation and presentation of works that are virtuous and praiseworthy. Once again, the event has delivered the goods — both intellectually and tangibly.

The retreat is sponsored by anonymous patrons who believe that Latter-day Saint artists have a special mission to perform in furthering the cause of Zion. It was founded eight years ago by noted playwright Doug Stewart. Attendance is by invitation, and includes representatives of the visual arts, film, music, theater and dance disciplines. The participants are rotated from year to year to include different estab-lished artists at each biannual event. It was held February 2nd and 3d, 2007, in Salt Lake City.

“The most recent example of cooperation among artists resulting from the retreat has been Lee Groberg’s Sweetwater Rescue film, the beautifully illustrated art book, and the accompanying CD,” said James Christensen, noted painter and MAF board member.

The film documents the story of the Willie and Martin Handcart companies and the difficulties they faced while crossing the plains in 1856. It has aired on the Public Broadcasting System; the DVD, book and CD are available in LDS bookstores now.

Forty-five visual artists contributed paintings created specifically for the book, and the CD includes works from many noted LDS musicians.

This year’s keynote speaker was Lisa Jones, a supporter of H.E.L.P. International, a non-profit corpora-tion that with Proctor and Gamble has developed a powdered flocculent that turns filthy water into clean, potable water in twenty minutes. She discussed the idea of sustainable enterprise — a business model that recognizes not only present profitability, but also a responsibility for coming generations. She em-phasized the “triple bottom line” in achieving this goal — profit, people and the planet.

Jones proposed the idea of making meaning with one’s life both individually and as a corporation. She said corporations should strive to value not just the bottom line, but to also value two additional levels of results — the social and environmental impact of that profitability.

She acknowledged that as a rule, artists are already in the business of making meaning of life, but can enhance that mission with more “connectedness” — the realization that the things one does affects other people and the environment. She encouraged all to personally implement a number of small things that contribute to a sustainable enterprise business model in the larger free market system. Her organization’s website is www.help-international.org.

The highlights of the overnight weekend experience included the “show and tell” or “sharing time” sec-tions, where selected artists do a brief presentation of their current work. The variety, quality and indi-viduality displayed were stunning, and I found this part of the retreat the most stimulating.

Though the number of presenters is too great to list all, some notable moments included works from painters Robert Marshall, James Christensen, Del Parson and Brian Kershisnick, filmmakers Peter John-son and Nick Gasdick, as well as musicians Sam Payne and Peter Breinholt. A completely new form of dance based on American Sign Language was presented by Kathie Debenham. Author Tracy Hickman gave an enlightening multimedia presentation on significant storytelling elements in literature.

Perhaps it is the gathering of so many passionate artists with a shared purpose, and the subject matter of the keynote address that permeated the entire conference, that made this event stand out from others. The Mormon Arts Foundation Retreat’s place as an organized, stimulating force for good in the shaping of LDS art and artists is significant.

Visit the author’s website at www.greg-hansen.com. Visit www.LDSMusicNow.com for easy sheet music downloads, and www.LDSTunesNow.com for LDS mp3 downloads.