{"id":85343,"date":"2024-08-12T13:55:10","date_gmt":"2024-08-12T20:55:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/?p=85343"},"modified":"2024-09-03T07:40:34","modified_gmt":"2024-09-03T14:40:34","slug":"claudia-sisemore-1937-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/claudia-sisemore-1937-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Claudia Sisemore: 1937-2024"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Claudia Sisemore in her home, 2015. Photo by Zoe Rodriguez.<\/p><\/div>\n

Claudia Sisemore, a distinguished teacher, artist, and filmmaker, passed away on Aug. 9 at the age of 86, leaving behind a profound legacy that shaped the lives of many within Utah’s art community. Known for her charismatic presence, creative spirit, and deep dedication to the arts, Sisemore’s influence extended far beyond the classroom, touching the lives of her students, colleagues, and the many artists she documented through her films.<\/h4>\n

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Sept. 16, 1937, Sisemore spent her childhood in East Millcreek and Granger. She graduated from West High School, earned a Bachelor’s in English from Brigham Young University in 1959, and a Master of Fine Arts in filmmaking and painting from the University of Utah in 1976.<\/h4>\n

Sisemore’s early years as a teacher at Hillside Junior High in Salt Lake City are fondly remembered by former students like artists Layne Meacham and Trent Thursby Alvey, who recall not just her stylish appearance but her ability to connect with and inspire her students. Meacham recalls her as “hot stuff” when she was 21, driving a silver Jaguar XKE, while Alvey, who was an 8th-grade creative writing student, remembers her stiletto heels, cashmere sweaters, and a demeanor that set her apart from other teachers.<\/h4>\n

\u201cClaudia was my first \u2018not-boring\u2019 teacher; in fact, she got my full attention,\u201d Alvey reflects, highlighting Sisemore\u2019s ability to foster a creative atmosphere. \u201cShe set the tone for my whole life of creativity in that class. Many of her students will agree that Claudia showed us a way to shape our creative lives into the future.\u201d Meacham adds, \u201cShe was not uptight and could relate to all the students. The other teachers seemed to be about 20 years behind her in demeanor, dress, and understanding of the culture the kids were relating to.\u201d Sisemore\u2019s approachability and understanding of the complexities of the era endeared her to her students, who felt accepted and encouraged by her.<\/h4>\n
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Painting by Sisemore, circa 2015. More works can be viewed at Phillips Gallery.<\/p><\/div>\n

Her impact, however, was not confined to the classroom. From 1979 to 1994, she worked at the Utah State Office of Education as an educational filmmaker. At the same time, she received several grants as an independent filmmaker to produce documentary films on Utah artists. Sisemore became a prolific filmmaker, capturing some of Utah\u2019s most significant artists and cultural figures on film. Her extensive body of work includes documentaries on seminal artists such as LeConte Stewart, Denis Phillips, Alvin Gittins, Francis Zimbeaux, and Lee Deffebach, as well as notable figures like dance teacher Virginia Tanner and Utah Symphony Maestro Maurice Abravanel. She produced more than 20 films, chronicling the artistry of organizations such as Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, Children\u2019s Dance Theatre, and Repertory Dance Theatre.<\/h4>\n

Sisemore\u2019s journey into filmmaking began somewhat serendipitously. Initially trained as a classical pianist, she pursued a bachelor\u2019s degree in English from Brigham Young University. Her path took a turn when she wanted to attend graduate school for painting at the University of Utah. Lacking an undergraduate degree in art, she was offered a spot in a newly developed filmmaking program, which allowed her to take art classes as well. It was here that she began to merge her passion for visual art with the medium of film.<\/h4>\n

Her first major project was a film on LeConte Stewart, which came about through a suggestion by her mentor, Ed Maryon. Initially reluctant, Stewart eventually allowed Sisemore to film him, marking the beginning of a close friendship and a successful documentary career. \u201cWe became the best of friends,\u201d Sisemore recalled, \u201cand he loved the film.\u201d<\/h4>\n

Sisemore\u2019s success as a filmmaker can be attributed to her deep connection with the community she documented. She was not just an observer but an active participant in Utah\u2019s art scene, which gave her films a unique intimacy and authenticity. Her works are cherished not only for their artistic value but also for the way they have preserved the legacy of Utah\u2019s cultural history. She was the University of Utah College of Fine Arts inaugural Legacy Award recipient at the 2018 Distinguished Alumni Awards Legacy Assembly, which honored \u201can alum whose seasoned and successful career has brought deserved acclaim not just to them but to the program from which they attended here at the University of Utah as well.\u201d Completed documentaries will be held online at Marriott Library Special Collections. The Salt Lake City Public Library System is copying the films to make them available for checkout, according to Alvey.<\/h4>\n

In addition to her filmmaking, Sisemore was an accomplished painter, known for her abstract works that often employed Color Field techniques. Her paintings have been exhibited at Phillips Gallery and featured in significant annual exhibitions like the Springville Salon and BDAC Statewide Annual. Her work was also showcased in a special exhibit at Rio Gallery<\/a>, organized by Alvey and Layne Meacham, that highlighted Sisemore\u2019s influence on other artists.<\/h4>\n
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Sisemore in her painting studio, 1970s.<\/p><\/div>\n

Even in her later years, Sisemore remained dedicated to her art. Though she scaled back her filmmaking due to physical challenges following a serious car accident, she continued to paint, creating vibrant works in her kitchen studio. Her paintings, often characterized by their exploration of color and form, reflect the same creative energy that defined her life.<\/h4>\n

Sisemore\u2019s home, which she shared with her beloved cat Monkey (who remained with her until the very end), is a testament to her lifelong dedication to the arts. \u201cWhat I valued about Claudia was not only her artwork but her attention to the history of Utah artists,\u201d says gallerist Bonnie Phillips. Sisemore\u2019s walls are adorned with her own works as well as pieces by her friends and fellow artists, including Francis Zimbeaux, Randall Lake, Don Olsen, and LeConte Stewart. Her living room, filled with Color Field paintings and her distinctive \u201cwood pieces,\u201d serves as a vibrant gallery of her life\u2019s work.<\/h4>\n

Her contributions to the arts were recognized in 2015 by the Utah Arts Festival, where she was honored with a Mayor\u2019s Award in the Arts. Despite her many accomplishments, Sisemore remained humble and dedicated to supporting the next generation of artists. Edward Bateman, a digital artist and assistant professor at the University of Utah, credits Sisemore with helping to shape his own career, recalling her as one of the first people to believe in his potential:<\/h4>\n

\u201cClaudia was an artist through and through! And it showed in everything she did. Her documentaries on artists and dance companies were her way of sharing her excitement for all the arts. She loved artists \u2013 I never heard her say a negative word about any artist. Her eyes instantly revealed her commitment to mischief; likely one of those life lessons from art: rules must be bent or broken to make something exceptional. There is no doubt this was required when she went to school to study painting and filmmaking \u2013 at a time when women were actively discouraged (or worse) in the academy. Exceptional indeed was what she would go on to create.\u201d<\/h4>\n

Claudia Sisemore\u2019s legacy will continue to inspire future generations of artists and filmmakers. Her contributions to Utah\u2019s cultural heritage are immeasurable, and her influence will be felt for years to come.<\/h4>\n
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Claudia Sisemore in her home, 2015. Photo by Zoe Rodriguez.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Her funeral is Friday, August 16, 2024, at Memorial Holladay-Cottonwood Mortuary, 4670 South Highland Drive, Holladay, Utah 84117 at 1:00 p.m. with viewings Thursday, August 15, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and again from 12:00-12:45 p.m. on Friday at the same location. Interment will be at Memorial Holladay Cemetery, 4900 South Memory Lane, Holladay.<\/p>\n

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Claudia Sisemore, a distinguished teacher, artist, and filmmaker, passed away on Aug. 9 at the age of 86, leaving behind a profound legacy that shaped the lives of many within Utah’s art community. Known for her charismatic presence, creative spirit, and deep dedication to the arts, Sisemore’s influence […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":844,"featured_media":85383,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[43,14],"tags":[869],"class_list":["post-85343","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-in_memoriam","category-visual_arts","tag-claudia-sisemore"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/claudiacamera-1-e1723690301101.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-07-28 09:37:49","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85343","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/844"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=85343"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85343\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":85352,"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85343\/revisions\/85352"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/85383"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=85343"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=85343"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=85343"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}