From Humble Beginnings, President’s Art Show and Permanent Collection Going Strong

Ryan Moffett's piece "Disconnect" from the 2015 Art Show was purchased for the college's permanent collection.

    The year was 1994. Photography Professor Terry Martin (below left) and Academic Advisor Gordon Storrs (below right) were fed up with the damaged, faded posters and other less-than-appealing pictures adorning the walls of the college. After some healthy commiseration, they determined that the institution was in desperate need of an art committee. “I remember going into (President Frank Budd’s) office asking for funds to support an art committee to purchase artwork, remove posters and other silliness from walls and host two art shows per year” recalls Martin, a gregarious photography guru with a silver mop of hair, mischievous grin and tiki adorned button up. “I think that we even suggested to name the show after Mr. Budd or call it ’The President's Invitational Art Show.’” 

Storrs, a walking encyclopedia of college history with an impossibly gracious demeanor, corroborates Martin’s account. “We made the case that if we had an art program at the college, we should also have quality art on the walls,” Storrs says. “Kathy Boswell, who was assistant to the college president then, arranged $20,000 from the college budget.” Thus, today’s art committee was born. The days of cheap reproductions in bad frames littering the hallways were over.  Martin and Storrs now had the funding and authorization to purchase fine art for the college’s permanent collection and started recruiting a team to organize and curate college exhibitions. 

Attendees of the 2014 President's Art Show await results of award winners.

Twenty-six years later, the art committee is going strong with a rotating cast of cohorts including Storrs and Martin. Currently at 17 members, they oversee a permanent collection of nearly 500 objects and a robust gallery program organized by event coordinator Danielle Susi-Dittmore.  Thirteen exhibitions will be displayed in the 2020-21 school year and the big one – the annual President’s Art Show – is just around the corner.

Over the years, hundreds of works by local artists have been exhibited at the President’s Art Show, nearly 60 of which have been acquired by the art committee for the permanent collection. 

It's heartening to see that 26 years later, that fateful meeting with SLCC President Frank W. Budd is still paying off. A hearty ‘thank you’ to Terry Martin and Gordon Storrs for having the vision and tenacity to get the first President’s Art Show off the ground, to the art committee who do the hard work of organizing it year after year, to the artists who keep coming back to submit their works and to the community that shows up to appreciate the magic. Here’s to another 26 years!

The President’s Art Show is an annual, juried show featuring Utah artists of all levels and awards totaling $5,000.

Exhibiting November 5-18, 2020

• To view virtual tour and celebration video, visit www.slcc.edu/artshow
• In person viewings by appointment. To schedule, contact Danielle.Susi-Dittmore@slcc.edu or 801-957-4496
• Individuals who require ADA accommodations may contact the Disability Resource Center at 801-957-4659
• Learn more about SLCC art exhibitions and collections here: www.slcc.edu/exhibitions-collections

COVID-19 message

Individuals hoping to view the 2020 President’s Art Show can do so either by scheduling an in-person visit (see contact information above), or by viewing the virtual tour online (available during the second week of November). If you are planning to schedule an in-person viewing, please be advised that properly-worn masks are required, that we are not hosting groups of more than 19 people, we will need a full list of names and cell phone numbers of individuals joining your visit, and that there will not be printed programs but there will be a digital version available.