Seven decades of UVU history now on display at Woodbury Art Museum
Bonny Dowling | Staff Writer
In celebration of UVU’s 75th anniversary, George Sutherland Archives, Woodbury Art Museum,and UVU, have come together to open a free exhibit at the Woodbury Art Museum showcasing art, photographs, and artifacts from the past seven decades through Sept. 24.
There are over 100 artifacts on display, to show not only UVU’s journey through recent years, but also its transformation from Central Utah Vocational School to the University it is now.
Not only do these pieces show the history of UVU, they also portray artists from the entire valley and help create a picture of what the community has looked like over the past 75 years. From oil and pastel paintings,created by past and present residents of the community, to photographs of Utah Valley through the decades, there is something unique in each piece in the exhibit.
Other displays feature brochures for vocational training that date back to the 1950s, as well as photographs showing what campus life looked like for its students during that decade.
“My grandmother went to Central Utah Vocational School in the 1950s for sewing and it was really fun taking our picture in the 1950s themed “selfie station”. It just added a whole dimension to the experience, and now I have something I can take away from the exhibit to show my family,” said Rebecca Johnson, while checking out the exhibit.
The exhibit has enhanced the visitor’s experiences by providing six different “selfie stations”throughout the museum that let visitors take pictures with family and friends. Each station represents a different decade and culture.
“There are over 10,000 people a year that come to visit the museum so this show really gives the community an opportunity to come take a look at the art and history through the decades,” said Danielle Lambert, an employee at Woodbury Art Museum.
Woodbury Art Museum has allowed UVU to showcase its talented artists and has given the community an opportunity to see how it has evolved in the last 75 years, as well as give notice to the talented artists and photographers through its history.
There will be a closing reception Sept. 20 from 6 p.m. to 8p.m. Visitors are encouraged to wear clothing from past decades while enjoying free refreshments and taking pictures in one of the six selfie stations the exhibit offers
Kimberly Bojórquez is a Los Angeles native currently pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in Communication with an emphasis in journalism, and a minor in Latin American Studies. From 2017-18 she served as the editor-in-chief of the UVU Review and worked at ABC4’s morning show “Good Things Utah”, Salt Lake City Weekly and the Daily Herald.
She has written stories that relate to national issues, local crime and social justice. In her spare time, she loves to take photos, hike Utah’s national parks and attend live rock concerts.