Paintings by LDS artist to be unveiled at Women’s Conference

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    By Benjamin Carter

    Two new original paintings by prominent LDS artist, Simon Dewey, will be unveiled Thursday, April 29, on the third floor of the BYU Bookstore, as part of Women”s Conference.

    Dewey said the two paintings are called “To Fulfill All Righteousness” and “No Greater Love.” The first depicts Jesus Christ”s baptism, and the second is what Dewey calls a different take on the crucifixion of Christ.

    Val Ugolini, an art and frame buyer for the BYU Bookstore, said he scheduled the unveiling at the same time as Women”s Conference because many LDS women like Dewey”s art, and would be interested to be the first group to see the new paintings.

    “They like [Dewey”s] paintings,” he said. “So we wanted to give them an opportunity to see something for the first time.”

    Ugolini said even though the unveiling is a Women”s Conference activity, anybody is invited to come. Last year the bookstore unveiled eight new paintings including four of Dewey”s during Campus Education Week. Three hundred people attended that unveiling, but Ugolini said he doesn”t expect that many people this year.

    Ugolini said part of the reason he expects fewer people to come is the fact that it is just one activity during Women”s Conference. He said the event is planned smaller so that people will be able to fit it in to their schedule. There are other events happening around the time of the unveiling, including a luau and some LDS musical performers.

    “We”ll give people enough time to come see the paintings, and then go to the luau,” he said.

    Dewey said he is excited to present his new paintings to the Women”s Conference audience because they often give him valuable, and satisfying feedback. He said he appreciates the feedback he gets from people all over the world that come to BYU for Women”s Conference.

    “They all come with their different backgrounds, cultures sometimes, and it gives me an idea of what people are thinking of my work all over,” he said.

    Even though Dewey makes his living from his art, he says he has a higher purpose for what he does. His paintings are all religious. In fact he has a model that he uses whenever he paints Christ.

    “There”s a mission behind what we”re doing,” he said. “We hope this will find it”s way into people”s hearts where it will bless their lives.”

    David Gianfredi, a frame clerk at the bookstore helped set up last year, and will be involved this year as well. He said Ugolini really has a good time with the theatrics of the unveiling.

    “Last year there were red tablecloths over the paintings,” Gianfredi said. “When they took the cloths off the audience saw these actual images for the first time. It was very impressive.”

    After the unveiling, those in attendance will be able to talk to Dewey about his work. Gianfredi said his involvement in the unveilings and meeting the artists are real benefits to his job.

    “It”s really cool to have the artist here,” he said. “People know the artwork but not the artist, and when the artist is here they have all these questions.”

    Ugolini said he expects Dewey will leave the paintings at the bookstore for a few days. Customers will be able to purchase prints of the new paintings, ranging in size and quality, for anywhere from 50 cents to $750. The higher prints are higher quality Giclee prints that will last 100 years without fading. Ugolini said the normal, less expensive prints would start to fade after six months.

    Dewey will be at BYU Thursday and Friday, signing prints of his paintings for customers. Other LDS artists like Del Parson, and Greg Olsen will also be there signing prints. The bookstore will also have book signings by prominent LDS authors throughout Thursday and Friday as part of Women”s Conference.

    The paintings will be unveiled at 5 p.m. Thursday behind the stairs on the third floor of the bookstore. Customers will get discounts on books and custom framing, and will get free shipping during the event.

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