March 1976 Comment Collection Paintings Will Become WSC (continued from page The $20,000 1) from the Bicen- tennial Commission was to be used for commissions to various artists throughout the state. The balance of funds for the paintings would then be paid to the artists by the participating donor who $25,000. as ‘‘Battle of Bear River”’ Richard J. Van Wagoner an assist the artists,’’ he said. Upon completion of the project the donor will donate the paintings back to WSC as part of their permanent collection. Six general categories were agreed upon. Recommendations were received from the Utah Institute of Fine Arts and other groups and a list of paintings was developed. There will be approximately 60 paintings. The six categories are: 1) nine forts 2) Indian portrayals 3) .trappers and mountain men 4) pioneer settlements 5) early industry and 6) miscellaneous historical events. Applications have been extended to many Utah communities and Utah artists in addition to four on the WSC campus, Farrell Collett, Dale Bryner, Charles Groberg and Dick Van Wagoner. Local artists include Lee Parkinson, ‘‘Chinese Tracklayers - 1869”’ Dale Bryner to B.Y. Andelin, Ken Davidson, Fred Hunger, Peg Kotak, Dave Sawyer, Mary Warnock and others. Other notable artists include Ev Thorpe and Harrison Groutage, USU; Gary Smith and Franz Johansen, BYU, and Al Gittins, U of U. Emphasis has been placed on the various ethnic groups in Utah, Indians, Mexicans and Chinese as well as other early settlers. Among the paintings are titles such as ‘‘Miles Goodyear - Porter Rockwell,. 1847,’ ‘‘Indians Hunting Elk on Ogden River,”’ “China Town - Box Elder, 1869,”’’ “Indian Battle at Huntsville,”’ “Trappers Camp on Weber River, 1840-41,’’ ‘‘Chief Pocatello Trading at Brigham City,’’ and ‘‘Logging Operation Below Mt. Ogden.”’ While working on the ‘‘Utah War, Echo Fortification” painting, Gary Smith, accompanied by Dr. Robert Mikkelson, WSC Dean of the School of Humanities, who had lived in the area, visited ‘“‘Brigham’s Fort - 1853” Farrell R. Collett the region. Evidence remains of the breastwork and fortifications along the walls of Echo canyon. There are so many fascinating William J. Critchlow If stories of the area it is hoped that the project will stimulate the collecting of oral histories as well. This is the first phase of a permanent art collection for Weber State College and it is hoped that through donors and other means a more extensive art collection can be developed. “Tt is not assumed that the collection will have to be kept intact or under one roof. Ideas range from creating an art gallery or museum in an existing building or using the Dee Special Events Center when it is completed. The exhibit might be broken down into a_ traveling exhibit with paintings in various buildings on campus,” Mr. Hurst said. Interest created by the art project resulted in a bill presented to the legislature to make the site of Fort Buenaventura into a state park. It was hoped that the park could be a living recreation of the early fort. The bill passed the House but was defeated in the Senate although hopes are strong for bringing up the proposal again next — ‘‘The presentation to the Bicentennial Commission proposed that the college participate by allowing Professor Farrell Collett of the college art department to work full time on paintings of the nine forts in the area,’’ said Dean W. Hurst, executive director of the WSC development fund committee. ‘Likewise the history department, through a faculty and student research program, were to collect background information - donated year. Plans call exhibited in for the art to be the Utah Capitol (continued on page 3) Second-class postage paid at Ogden, Utah, published bi-monthly at Weber State College with editorial offices in the Alumni Office, Ugaen, Utah 84408, Vol. 3 No. 6 March 1976. COMMENT is mailed at no charge to alumni of Weber State College. Alumni Editor: Arlene Wilson. Alumni Board of Directors Executive Committee Dr. Michael Burdett, President Douglas C. Brian, First Vice President Tim Morris, Second Vice President Alan E. Hall, Executive Director Directors Joseph Ligori Hazel Robertson Paul Checketts Kent B. Petersen Barbara Skeen Kyle Mattson Ruth Swenson Bruce Nilson John Lindquist Carolyn Craynor Margaret Favero Leland Monson President Joseph L. Bishop — —