Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-07-12
RECOGNITION OF
UTAH PAINTER.
..us.Hn
Boston Herald Comments on John
tafen and Mormon Art
CHURCH HELPS HER ARTISTS
u,,ours q cement Given struggling Tai
eut Commended by Boston Paper
HafeB In Chieago'


Ntr John Hsfen, the Utah artist VINO
saeently returned from an extended So
.onrn in the East, where he has sue
reeded in placing his works before the
people has been honored with an elab-
oraie cwrite-up" In the Boston Herald
=, recent date. Mr.. Hafen's work is on
exhibition in New York and Boston
slonrsIde that Of the foremost land
scape painters Of America. which in
Itself is natterlng tribute to his tai
,nts The article alluded to is as fol-
lows;
Included In the summer exhibition at
me Doll & Richards gallery are some
landscapes By a young painter named
uafen. resident In Salt Lake City. Com
Ing from that remote quarter they are
particularly noteworthy for the thor
nuqh modern spirit that characterlzes
them-the refinement, the delicacy In
sentiment, the close sympathy with ma
iure. and the thoroughly vital manner
In which, in the artists own individual
way the work is brought into relation
with the best OF contemporary land
scape painting.
It's really a revelation TO find art Of
this kind proceeding from that part Of
the world. One might perhaps sooner
expect TO find good art originating In
the bacSwoods Of. say, Aroostook, or
the Adirondacks, than in place that
hasseemed to stand for so little Of the
culture Of the age as Salt Lake City.
And yet more surprising It is to be
told that the artist is a Mormon, and
that he owes TO his Church his encour-
agement in art II appears that the
Mormon Church actually makes the en-
couragement Of art feature of its ac-
tivitles and from motives similar to
those that in the Catholic church, as
wei as in the pagan faiths of classical
antiquity were the sources Of the high
est arilfc development. These mo-
tlyes are the manifestation OF religious
emotions In shapes of beauty that. In
their Illustration OF sacred themes,
make their appeal TO the Imagination OF
the masses. With the Mormons this has
APPARENTLY developed not from any
sdtconscious intention OF following
historic presidents, but In a degree
spontaneously
Whatever may be thought OF Mormon
ienets or OF those of the great faiths
hat have given rise to artistic forms
Of expression, the world at large is in
debled 10 that Church, as TO the other
lofns oil religion, for contributing to the
universal tund or the beautiful that in
some way Is always a Visible expression
Of the true.
one Of the most important forms
Which Mormon encouragement OF art
has taRen has been in the decoration Of
the great temple at Salt Lake City.
TINS temple has an inner sanctuary de-
voted 10 secret rites OF the faith, and
most sumptuously decorated with splen-
ga fabrics, mural paintings and other
foms OF adornment
This sacred interior Is closed against
hl outside intrusion. But Just before
us Indication, a strong desire to see its
wonders having been expressed, the
Yhufeh authorities very considerably
pye out formal invitations TO many
Prominent Gentiles resident in the
Van capital to inspect the place ON a
eSlaln day--an opportunity that was
very generally taken advantage OF as
lhe last and only chance that persons
poi ultimately connected with the Nor
mon Church would ever have to enter
DE place.
Precisely what these decorations are
u.s. therefore, difficult for the world nj
hfge 70 know, for the only source Of in
,orHation Is the memory Of those who
lal lhe fortune 70 see them on that oc-
edslon. The mural work Is said TO rep
resent various scenes from the scrip |
.ultS among them an elaborate depic.
Won OF the garden of Eden.
ING Mormon system Of the encourage |
nehI OF art provides for the instruction
=. talented youth, even so far as send |
ms mem TO Europe for a course OF |
nuly' On their return these young art |
~ ~ moreover are not thrown upon |
,uer own unaided resources, and per |
has leit to st9rve, but are given an al |
funds. '''' '"e N"u'V"
iaough this is naturally but a very
nouesl sum II nevertheless is sufficient |
~ enable the artist to pursue his art |
ssIl,nnuu9pered by worry about the where
s sisnal FOR food and raiment. Conse-
yushtly he can devote himself absolute
20 ms art, and even pursue its loftier
s ,,.as' IN return for HIS assistance the |
chse contracts to give his work 20 the
,v ,i or at least so much Of Il as
,n's represent In value the money Civ
~ ior annual support, together with
Wy eA9enses Incurred for education.
,o Sus, what Is done with the work that
~ 70 The Church does not appear.
sSysslpg II may be utilized in the
, ~ IN OF public places belonging
i,si,,g,N hurch, or il may be sold 10
n,, through the great cooper.
CIV, system that has been so extern
, 10y developed under Mormon aus.
~ o;Se " IN either event. II the work
y, Mefmon painters IN general ap-
b,osyhes In quality that shown here
Mr' hafen, Il must exert a strong
Nv influence upon the commune
an. ar Hatcn Is himself in receipt OF