TEF’s final 2015-2016 Traveling Art Exhibit, Early Utah Masterpieces, is on display at Rose Springs Elementary from March 31-April 28, 2016. This is a great opportunity for students and members of the community to view first-class art without leaving the Tooele Valley!  Also a fun chance for students to see a painting of a very familiar landmark along I-80, Black Rock.

You can read more about Early Utah Masterpieces below:

Alice Merrill Horne’s vision 108 years ago helped create the nation’s first state arts agency, the Utah Art Institute – now Utah Arts & Museums. An artist and arts patron, Alice Merrill Horne, along with fellow artist George Ottinger, drafted the “Art Bill” in 1899, which passed unanimously in the State Senate and the House. This bill called for the establishment of a state collection of visual art. The collection became known as the “Alice Art Collection” in her honor. Collecting Utah art has continued since that time and is now known as the State Fine Art Collection.

The Utah Art Institute purchased a series of paintings to become the first works of art for the “Alice Art Collection”. From these early purchases, the Traveling Exhibits Program has chosen twenty-six paintings for this exhibit. The historical significance of these early paintings tells the story of the early Utah pioneers, the era in which they lived, and the places and people they knew. It is a heritage that Utah Arts & Museums is proud to share with the people of Utah. The acquisition of works of art by Utah artists continues today, increasing the value and importance of the State Fine Art Collection.
–Utah Division of Arts & Museums

Thank you to our generous donors who make the Traveling Art Exhibit possible and for TEF’s Traveling Art Exhibit Coordinator, Stephanie Bothell!  We hope you have enjoyed the exhibits this year. TEF is currently accepting donors for the 2016-2017 Traveling Art Exhibits. If you are interested in providing first class art and art education to students in Tooele County, please contact the Tooele Education Foundation at 435-833-1900. You can read all about the traveling arts program at Utah Division of Arts and Museums.