Student in BYU's American studies program visit Springville to learn about history through art

An American Studies major ponders on art displays at the Springville Museum of Art. She travelled there with a few other BYU students and faculty to learn more about how art can represent American culture and values. (Taylin Galloway) — An American studies major ponders on art displays at the Springville Museum of Art. She travelled there with a few other BYU students and faculty to learn more about how art can represent American culture and values. (Taylin Galloway)

The BYU American studies program took students and faculty to the Springville Museum of Art on Nov. 1 to observe art through a historical lens.

Students from any major were invited to participate in the museum trip. Rides to the museum were coordinated from the Wilkinson Student Center.

Jessika Cole, an American Studies major at BYU, shares photos with friends on the way to the Springville Museum Of Art. BYU students and faculty travelled there to learn more about American culture and values represented in art. (Taylin Galloway) — Jessika Cole, an American studies major at BYU, shares photos with friends on the way to the Springville Museum of Art. (Taylin Galloway)

The Springville museum is Utah’s first art museum where “150 years of Utah art, twentieth-century Soviet realist art and American art shares space with juried shows of contemporary Utah art,” the museum's website said.

Upon their arrival, the students met museum director Emily Larsen. Larsen gave a few remarks and introduced some of the exhibitions at the beginning of the visit before letting the group explore on their own.

Larsen asked students and faculty to reflect on why museums are important and what they do for culture. She brought attention to how art and what artists choose to portray in it can illustrate what American communities have historically — and currently — believe to be important.

Museums are “in the storytelling business,” Larsen said.

The group listened and followed Larsen as she explained the history behind the museum and some of the art within it, specifically how Springville gathered the art pieces currently on display.

A married student couple listens to Emily Larsen, director of the Springville Museum of Art, give a tour about the history of the museum. The American Studies major brought students interested to the museum to learn about its representation of American culture and values. (Taylin Galloway) — A married student couple listens to Emily Larsen, director of the Springville Museum of Art, give a tour about the history of the museum. (Taylin Galloway)

Larsen said it is part of the museum's mission to "encourage contemplation and provide a sanctuary of beauty in a secular way, bringing communities together."

“I’m super biased, but I think that sometimes museums are an under-analyzed resource for all of us who are doing academic work,” Larsen said.

The group dispersed after Larsen introduced the museum. Each individual quietly explored various exhibits and had their own experience with the art.

Students practiced Larsen’s instruction to contemplate and ponder with the art. They accepted the challenge to include the art’s origins with their experience and look for the “universal humanity” in each piece, Larsen said.

Some students walked around on their own, pausing at various exhibits. Others wandered in groups, especially those who brought friends or significant others to the trip.

BYU student interacts with art exhibit at the Springville Museum Of Art. He travelled there with the American Studies major at BYU to learn about how the museum captures American values and culture. (Taylin Galloway) — A BYU student interacts with an art exhibit at the Springville Museum of Art. (Taylin Galloway)

Tayton Fuja, an American studies major, was first struck by the museum itself.

“When you walk in, the walls are absolutely covered with paintings,” Fuja said. “It's really just beautiful. And then, when you're taken upstairs — it's kind of the idea of you can see the procession of time, how it kind of evolved, which was really, really cool to see.”

Jessika Cole, another American studies student in attendance, also observed that the museum itself could stand on its on artistic merit alone.

“The museum itself is a work of art as well,” Cole said. “It's echoing in here because it's just the way it's built. And then it has artwork — even the door frames, the windowpanes, the paintings, the sculptures.”

Students witnessed history as it is manifested through art. Their trip to the museum provided them an opportunity to learn experientially.

Fuji said a personal connection with the art is what it is all about.

“When you can relate it back to an experience you've had or an ideal that you hold, it really can strike a resonant chord and resonate with you or something you've heard about history,” Fuja said.

Cole reflected on the ability art has to communicate.

“It’s realism mixed with impressionism because I feel like you have a bit of reality mixed with your emotions and your feelings, which is so hard to capture in words,” Cole said. “It's just so cool to see these people create things from their mind and be able to display it.”

BYU students and faculty enjoy dinner after touring at the Springville Museum of Art. (Taylin Galloway) — BYU students and faculty enjoy dinner after touring at the Springville Museum Of Art. The American Studies major took interested students to learn more about how art represents American culture and values. (Taylin Galloway)

Students digested their experiences with the art over dinner provided by the American studies program. They ate in the atrium of the museum.

People should come to the museum ready to let their thoughts and feelings affect them and the art they’re experiencing, Fuja said.

“Don't come to be a rock and a stone and not soak up anything but come to kind of be a sponge to soak everything around you, but also to change what you see,” Fuja said.