Anyone who talks to Swanson quickly learns all the reasons why the Springville Museum of Art is a Utah treasure. It is the oldest museum in Utah and the second oldest museum (next to Denver) in the Intermountain West. Swanson will point out Denver is on the plains so it doesn’t really count. He also points out that their museum exhibits more Utah art than all the other Utah museums combined. After 32 devoted years to the Museum, Swanson has the right to be proud. When asked what the greatest accomplishment of his career was, he had a definitive answer: “We made the living Utah artist the central hero of this museum.”
In the July 2012 edition of 15 Bytes Laura Durham talks with Vern Swanson about his three decades at the Springville Museum of Art, and an upcoming book on the collection.
UTAH’S ART MAGAZINE SINCE 2001, 15 Bytes is published by Artists of Utah, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Categories: Art Professional Spotlight
Vern Swanson has no peers. There is no one like him in the world–or at least in the world of art. Vern is a man of integrity, drive, and spirit and I have never seen him take a nap, cruise, or be depressed. His passion for the arts, his deep knowledge of artists, especially early Utah artists, his many authorships, and his ability to raise funds for the worthy causes of the Springville Museum are ceaseless. I value his friendship more than political conviction and that’s why this Democrat gets along with that Republican. Vern will never be forgotten. It is now time to change the name to the Swanson Museum of Art. My congratulations also to author Laura Durham, a totally-capable and tangible contributor to the arts of Utah. All best to you both!
Tom Alder, Williams Fine Art