Giving Good Art an Equally Good Home in Springville
By Dallin Smith Daily Universe Staff Reporter - 3 Jun 2005
By Dallin Smith Daily Universe Staff Reporter - 3 Jun 2005
Give a home for others' art, as you would have others give a
home for yours.
This is the golden rule of art, and Lee Cowan is a believer.
He used to be an art student. He remembers the days he
searched the streets of Utah to give his art a home, a place
to be displayed. Now, as an owner of an art gallery, Cowan
is giving two BYU students a place to display their sculpture
work.
Cowan, owner of Cowan Gallery, one block north of the
Springville Museum of Art, is displaying the work of Tyler
Davis and Jared Ellis, graduate art students at BYU. There
will be an opening reception for the artists Friday from 6 to
9 p.m.
“I graduated from Art Center in Pasadena,” Cowan said. “I
made myself a promise at that time that if I ever had the
means, I would open up a gallery and show people that
deserve to be shown. Both Tyler and Jared are two people
that deserve to have their work shown.”
Cowan said he has displayed artwork from about 10 BYU
students since he opened his gallery three and a half years
ago, he discovered the students’ work when visiting with
BYU Sculpture Professor Brian Christensen five months
ago. Cowan’s father, Richard, has taught religion at BYU
for 44 years. Richard said Cowan maintains a good
relationship with the art department at BYU.
home for yours.
This is the golden rule of art, and Lee Cowan is a believer.
He used to be an art student. He remembers the days he
searched the streets of Utah to give his art a home, a place
to be displayed. Now, as an owner of an art gallery, Cowan
is giving two BYU students a place to display their sculpture
work.
Cowan, owner of Cowan Gallery, one block north of the
Springville Museum of Art, is displaying the work of Tyler
Davis and Jared Ellis, graduate art students at BYU. There
will be an opening reception for the artists Friday from 6 to
9 p.m.
“I graduated from Art Center in Pasadena,” Cowan said. “I
made myself a promise at that time that if I ever had the
means, I would open up a gallery and show people that
deserve to be shown. Both Tyler and Jared are two people
that deserve to have their work shown.”
Cowan said he has displayed artwork from about 10 BYU
students since he opened his gallery three and a half years
ago, he discovered the students’ work when visiting with
BYU Sculpture Professor Brian Christensen five months
ago. Cowan’s father, Richard, has taught religion at BYU
for 44 years. Richard said Cowan maintains a good
relationship with the art department at BYU.
| Photo by Dana Tanner Tyler Davis created these sculptures, the large one titled "Accumulation," and the smaller ones "Accumulation 4" and "Accumulation 5." |
Through his meetings with BYU professors, Cowan learned of students that deserved to be exhibited.
“He knew how much he appreciated some place where he could show the things that he had done,” Richard said. “I
guess he wanted to give other people the same kind of opportunity.”
Cowan described the work he is now displaying as contemporary sculpture. “Jared really pushes the lines of the
incorporation of the natural and the man-made artifacts or materials,” Cowan said. “Tyler, he is more into
representational sculpture. … His art seems to be more traditionally-based.”
Jared Ellis said he gained his inspiration for the exhibit from architecture, modern furniture design and artists he
appreciated. “For me, a lot of it is aesthetic,” he said. “As far as meaning goes, I guess I sort of get pleasure just from the
shapes and the materials — the craftsmanship. … As far as some deep hidden meaning, I don’t come to it with any of
that, but other people certainly have their ideas and thoughts about them.”
Ellis said he feels it is important for students to get out and support fellow students and local artists.
“I think it helps people gain appreciation for all forms of artwork,” he said. Ellis said he is thankful that Cowan gave him
the opportunity to display his art.
Creating a community between students and faculty is important to Cowan. Even if a person doesn’t like the particular
style of art displayed, Cowan said it is important to support one another. “I think any art show is good — not just to see,
but for the learning experience,” he said.
source: http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/55755/1121
“He knew how much he appreciated some place where he could show the things that he had done,” Richard said. “I
guess he wanted to give other people the same kind of opportunity.”
Cowan described the work he is now displaying as contemporary sculpture. “Jared really pushes the lines of the
incorporation of the natural and the man-made artifacts or materials,” Cowan said. “Tyler, he is more into
representational sculpture. … His art seems to be more traditionally-based.”
Jared Ellis said he gained his inspiration for the exhibit from architecture, modern furniture design and artists he
appreciated. “For me, a lot of it is aesthetic,” he said. “As far as meaning goes, I guess I sort of get pleasure just from the
shapes and the materials — the craftsmanship. … As far as some deep hidden meaning, I don’t come to it with any of
that, but other people certainly have their ideas and thoughts about them.”
Ellis said he feels it is important for students to get out and support fellow students and local artists.
“I think it helps people gain appreciation for all forms of artwork,” he said. Ellis said he is thankful that Cowan gave him
the opportunity to display his art.
Creating a community between students and faculty is important to Cowan. Even if a person doesn’t like the particular
style of art displayed, Cowan said it is important to support one another. “I think any art show is good — not just to see,
but for the learning experience,” he said.
source: http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/55755/1121
Tyler Meadows Davis
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