Art and Design Commons^™

Arrival Of Spring, Ryan Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

Ryan Johnson’s plein air paintings address a season of personal longing by relying on the empathetic power of observational painting. His current series of oil on linen panels, painted on site, track the transition from winter to spring in and around New York City. In “Arrival of Spring”, he reflects on the decisions made on site, art historical influences, and the hope of anticipation.

Vision, Repetition And Redemption: Envisioning Universal Salvation In A Group Of Six Carolingian Ivory Book Covers, Valerie Thai

Theses and Dissertations

Six Carolingian ivory plaques share almost identical imagery. This thesis focuses on the figures of Synagoga and the rising dead repeated in the compositions. As the ivories are Gospel covers used in Mass, this study demonstrates how these motifs appeal to the congregation, conveying the Christian tenet of universal salvation.

Sense Make Before Book, Bradley Sinanan

Theses and Dissertations

“Sense Make Before Book” is an Indo-Caribbean turn of phrase which refers to common sense being more important than book smarts. My sister sent me a post the other day on Instagram of an Trinidadian woman using this phrase, saying it was one of Indo-Caribbean origin. I was interested and asked my mom about it. My mom says that when she was younger my grandpa said it often around their house in Princes Town, Trinidad and Tobago. This adage feels charged thinking about the history of indenture and its effects on the Indo-Caribbean diaspora.

The written word of archival history …

Bernice Lee Bing’S Art And Spiritual Practice, Lin Ma

Theses and Dissertations

Living and working in northern California between the late 1950s and 1990s, abstract painter Bernice Lee Bing practiced Zen, Nichiren, and Nyingma Buddhism. This thesis studies what the visual and conceptual impact of these spiritual practices had on her abstract and visionary paintings.

Yolkkh: The Story Of My People, Amna Zelimkha Yandarbin

Theses and Dissertations

The name of my project is: Yolkkh, The Story of My People. With this project I present a series of scarves each one bearing an illustrated scene in order to tell a story – my story and the story of the Noxci people. Noxci are the people who are referred to as “Chechens” by Russians and are generally known by that title. As a Muslim, I have witnessed the way Western media tend to dehumanize my community. In order to contrast this dehumanizing process, I thought that telling the story of my family would help reverse Islamophobic tendencies and raise …

Constraint And Control, Patricia Ayres

Theses and Dissertations

I have long considered themes of the body. Drawing on my knowledge as a fashion designer, I bring materials and hardware from the fashion industry into my artwork transforming and rendering them non-functional. My sculptures relate to stories of isolation, separation, and confinement. The following pages will analyze how the United States penal system controls, constrains and restricts the body through physical and psychological wounds. Furthermore, they will examine how the Catholic Church controls people’s minds and behavior through a ritualistic belief system.

The Prodigal Daughter: An Edition Of An Anonymous Text, Paige Deans

Theses and Dissertations

The Prodigal Daughter (1736) is a poem that, on the surface, appears to be an approachable text that was likely geared towards a children’s audience during New England’s first Great Awakening, within the approachable format of a chapbook. However, when explored further, The Prodigal Daughter reveals a complicated textual history during a time of theological and social revival in New England. This thesis considers the historical context of The Prodigal Daughter’s narrative, as well as the poem’s publication history. The text’s transmission is carefully examined and encapsulated in this edition—giving the reader a transcription that is the result of …

Long Vacation In Bk, Doll Chao

Theses and Dissertations

The diary of a transcontinental search for self and place, a journey through obtuse politics, cultural oppression, and loneliness - this film is the document of a lost generation of Taiwanese youth and its conflict with China, swirling in a transpacific gyre of sound, image, and text.

Hell In Hand: Fear And Hope In The Hellmouths Of The Hours Of Catherine Of Cleves, Stephanie Lish

Theses and Dissertations

This paper is an attempt to investigate how well the borders and miniatures of The Hours of Catherine of Cleves facilitated the method of meditation recommended by Gerard Zerbolt of Zutphen and therefore was a useful tool in Catherine’s search for eternal salvation.

Synergy: Game Design + Qur'an Memorization, Sultana Jesmine Moulana

Theses and Dissertations

The rise of digital technology has transformed nearly every part of our daily lives, including the way we learn and memorize. Such transformations raise interesting questions for one of the most long-standing and demanding memorization tasks in the world: the memorization of the Islamic holy book, The Qur’an. For Muslims, The Qur’an is a timeless, sacred text, cradling within its covers many profound images, stories, and parables. Despite rigorous research in the fields of game design and memorization techniques, very little work has been done in combining these two areas of research to create a game-based memorization experience of The …

Rhetorical Ripples: The Church Of The Subgenius, Kenneth Burke & Comic, Symbolic Tinkering, Lee A. Carleton

Theses and Dissertations

Humor has long been an effective way to engage difficult sociopolitical topics in a way that avoids polemical confrontation and provides opportunity for pleasure, catharsis and self-knowledge. In the context of today’s polarized politics and protest, creative satirical performance that deploys “symbolic tinkering” can provide a “comic frame of reference” that, according to Kenneth Burke, more effectively conveys its message while providing reflexive insight. The satirical Church of the SubGenius naturally practices this rhetorical frame in their multimedia creations. Using the lens of Burke’s Attitudes Toward History, this essay is an analysis of SubGenius rhetoric with a focus on …

John B. Fairbanks: The Man Behind The Canvas, Rachel Cope

Theses and Dissertations

A biographical sketch of artist John B. Fairbanks, this thesis primarily probes Fairbanks' evolution as an artist. From amateur, to art missionary, to professional artist, Fairbanks influenced his cultural surroundings in Utah and in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His commitment to his career and his impact on others significantly affected Utah and Mormon art. Thus it is important to understand and recognize the full portrait of John B. Fairbanks.

John B. Fairbanks, born on 27 December 1855, developed an interest in art while still young. Until reaching the age of thirty-four, he often worked as an …

The Historical Ceramics Of Camp Floyd, Jennifer L. Elsken

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an historical archaeological project involving the classification and analysis of the ceramics found at Camp Floyd, a 19th century military site 40 miles southwest of Salt Lake City, Utah. United States military troops were dispatched to the Utah Territory to establish a Pony Express Station and an Overland Stage Trail, to assert federal authority in the Territories, and to end the ongoing conflict between the federal government and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The primary research question concerned the ceramic usage patterns at Camp Floyd as compared to other military sites and non-residential …

Dorothea Lange In Utah, 1936-1938: A Portrait Of Utah's Great Depression, James R. Swensen

Theses and Dissertations

In his 1978 biography of Dorothea Lange, Milton Meltzer appraised Lange's 1936 photography in Utah as nothing more than mundane work done for the benefit of the Farm Security Administration (FSA) and not for her own benefit as a photographer. Yet, her work in Utah encapsulates the aspirations, goals, and styles of Lange, and gives insight into her vision as a photographer and representative of the New Deal. Through carefully composed photographs, Lange shows the hardships and hope of life in Utah during the Great Depression.

This thesis investigates Lange's photographs in order to gain a greater understanding of the …

A Naturalistic Study Of The History Of Mormon Quilts And Their Influence On Today's Quilters, Helen-Louise Hancey

Theses and Dissertations

This interpretive study investigated the "quilt" and its significance to Latter-day Saint Women. Mormon master quilters were chosen because of their knowledge of fabrics, patterns, and symbolism, their skill levels, and their intense interest in quilting. The researcher conducted interviews with the master quilters from July 1995 to April 1996. Field notes were taken and data concerning both observed actions and verbal comments regarding the importance of the quilt were collected, charted, coded, and analyzed.

Several dominant patterns and themes emerged from analyses of the data, including: quilting is an enjoyable and active art form among Mormon women, pattern selection …

Minerva Teichert's Murals: The Motivation For Her Large-Scale Production, Marian Eastwood Wardle

Theses and Dissertations

It is my thesis that the impetus for Minerva Teichert's prolific mural production came from the lofty ideals of the Beaux Art mural tradition which she encountered and embraced during her studies at the Art Institute of Chicago from 1909 to 1912. Furthermore, it was the great interest in mural decoration during the 1930s, spurred by government patronage, that provided Teichert with the opportunity to apply these ideals to large-scale works.
Research into the Beaux Art mural tradition has been difficult, as recent scholarship on the subject is negligible. An understanding of this early mural movement however, yields a greater …

A Pale Reflection: American Indian Images In Mormon Arts, P. Jane Hafen

Theses and Dissertations

American Indians in Mormon arts suffer from the imposition of the white man's traditional ideas, images and stereotypes. An examination of Mormon literature since 1941, Mormon hymns and music, and Mormon visual arts reveals little consideration of Native American values: tribal affiliation, significance of place and community, myth and ritual. While the mainstream of American art has incorporated Native American values into Indian representations, and even found a place for Native American artists, Mormon arts adhere to historical misinterpretations, despite a number of fine Mormon Native American artists.

A Study Of Early Utah Water Color Painting, James Harvey Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

The intent of this study was to investigate those artists in early Utah art history who played an important part in the development of water color painting.

A Study Of The Artistic Philosophy Of Mahonri Mackintosh Young, Albert John Swensen

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine Mahonri M. Young's philosophy of art as recorded in his personal writings and the writings of his contemporaries—particularly his close friend, Jack Sears.

Magazines, books, newspapers, and miscellaneous unpublished materials such as letters, theses, scrapbooks and personal papers were examined for the purpose of becoming more familiar with the character and personality of Mahonri Young. From these sources of information the following was attempted: (1) to record anecdotes and experiences which may have had some significance on the development of his philosophy, (2) to glean from his own writings his feelings and …

Kitsch In The Visual Arts And Advertisement Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, Lori Schlinker

Theses and Dissertations

The writer's reason for making this study is a felt lack of taste and a general misunderstanding and misuse of the visual arts in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She is convinced that art, generally considered as a matter of personal taste, is actually a matter of professional judgement. A characteristic of our time is the "do-it-yourself" trend and to make up ones own mind about everything without any consultation of authorities and also a loss of feeling for integrity in productions of the human mind and hand which broke down the fences against kitsch and opened …

A Study Of The Life Of John Hafen: Artist With An Analysis And Critical Review Of His Work, William Lee Roy Conant Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

This study presents the life facts of John Hafen and examines his attitude changes as well as the changes in his art throughout his life. It catalogs with photographs the majority of Hafen's paintings.

John Hafen's personal letters were searched, as well as books, manuscripts and newspapers for information germane to this thesis. Personal interviews were held with people who knew him best and his paintings were found, photographed, and examined for use in this thesis.

John Hafen's life of fifty-four years was dedicated to his family, his church, and his art.

A Survey To Determine The Public Responses And Attitudes Toward The First Festival Of Mormon Art At Brigham Young University, Trevor Southey

Theses and Dissertations

A survey was conducted to determine the responses of the public to the First Festival of Mormon Art on exhibition at the Brigham Young University. Data were collected by means of questionnaires made available to gallery visitors. Through these responses it was determined that:
(1) Over three-fourths of the visiting public felt that art is important in relation to the Gospel. There was a positive correlation between the respondents' interest and experience in art and their feelings for the importance of art in relation to the Gospel.
(2) Over three-fourths of the visiting public felt that the exhibition was successful. …

A Study Of The Effect Of Color In The Utah Temple Murals, Terry John O'Brien

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the effect conveyed by color in the murals of four Latter-day Saint Temples: St. George, Logan, Manti, Salt Lake, compared to the desired effect relative to the spiritual function of each room in which they are found.

A Design Study In Costume For Projected Dramatic Productions Prescribing A Book Of Mormon Setting Identified Herein As Late Preclassic Mesoamerican Culture, Amanda J. Brown

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis was to design costumes for twelve characters, selected from the Book of Mormon, suitable for projected dramatic productions. Selection of the characters was determined by the following criteria:
(1) Sufficient dramatic potential for projected dramatic productions must be inherent in the period from which characters are drawn.
(2) Characters should represent various levels within their society.

The problem of creating the costume designs presumed an investigation of environmental factors which would influence the clothing styles worn by a typical cross section of Late Preclassic Mesoamerican society. Origins of the American Indian are briefly discussed and …

A Visual Interpretation Of Events And Personalities From The Book Of Mormon, Larry Berg Prestwich

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis was to create two paintings and ten drawings pertaining to events and personalities from the Book of Mormon. The art works were done with the special intent of expressing the artist's personal and animated feelings about several men whose writings comprise the book, and certain events pertaining to their particular circumstances.

A Critical Analysis Of The Management Of Springville High School Museum Of Art, Rell G. Francis

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the management policies of the Springville High School Museum of Art, and to arrive at an estimate of their effectiveness by means of a comparative analysis with fundamental elements of generally accepted good museum management.

Materials from the booklet, So You Want a Good Museum by Carl E. Guthe, were used as basic criteria for making the comparison which included investigating the following factors: (1) goals and purposes, (2) collections, (3) organization, (4) administration, and (5) activities.

A survey of literature, visits to museums, and interviews with museum administrators were made to …

Mahonri Mackintosh Young, Printmaker, Shirley Kazuko Yonemori

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis was to study and to document the life and work of Mahonri Young as a printmaker. The more specific questions to be answered in this study were: 1. How does Mr. Young rate as a fine printmaker? 2. What are his contributions to American Art as a fine printmaker?

Four Oil Paintings Illustrating Book Of Mormon Events, Ernel Leroy Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

The problem was to create four oil paintings which illustrate Book of Mormon events.

The Book of Mormon seems to hold forth great promise to the painter of religious subjects, but to the present only a limited number of artists have made use of this rich source. There is a need for good illustrations to help these scriptures come to life for the Book of Mormon reader.

The Visual Image Of Joseph Smith, William B. Mccarl

Theses and Dissertations

For most of the period since his death in 1844, at the hands of a maniacal mob in Carthage, Illinois, there has been doubt about which portrait of Joseph Smith, first president and founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, best represented his physical features. This work has attempted to accumulate as much information about his features as was available for the purpose of establishing the true image of the man. The discoveries made by this study are listed in the following discussion.

A Study Of Representative Examples Of Art Works Fostered By The Mormon Church With An Analysis Of The Aesthetic Value Of These Works, Monte B. Degraw

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine certain characteristics of representative examples of visual art fostered by the Mormon Church and to arrive at an estimate of the aesthetic values of these works by a comparative analysis with aesthetic values stressed in the literature.

Representative examples of Mormon art were examined to determine their primary purposes and themes. Each work considered was classified according to the following primary categories developed in a preliminary survey: (1) History Glorification, (2) Depiction of Moral Models, (3) Scriptural Teaching, and (4) Aesthetic Purpose.

The representative examples were analyzed for their stylistic qualities to …