Introduction
John Hafen, ArtistThe influence of art is so powerful in shaping our lives for a higher appreciation of the creations of our God that we cannot afford to neglect an acquaintance with it. We should be as eager for its companionship as we are eager for chairs to sit upon or for food to sustain our lives, for it has as important a mission in shaping our character and in conduc[t]ing our happiness as anything that we term necessities.
Elder Dieter F. UchtdorfArt shows there is a greater purpose in life which transcends our daily worries, stresses, pleasures, and joys. Art can transmit a message of hope, light, and truth anchored in Jesus Christ, His glory, and His work for the eternal well-being of the whole human race. Expression through art is one of the ways we can help bridge the divide.
For nearly 200 years the rich doctrines, history, and culture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have inspired artists to create artworks of diverse and profound expression. As the Church nears the bicentennial of its organization in 1830, this exhibition presents a broad survey of the visual art created by individuals connected to the faith.
This exhibition is the largest and most comprehensive attempt to show the variety of works by Latter-day Saint artists around the world from the Church’s founding to the present. It includes imagery from a broad array of backgrounds, materials, and styles and invites audiences to consider both the historical traditions and future trajectories of Latter-day Saint art.
Rather than telling a story chronologically or geographically, the exhibition is organized into four thematic sections: Memory and Archive; Individual and Church; Sacred Spaces; and Identity.
Work and Wonder: 200 Years of Latter-day Saint Art is organized by the Church History Museum and the Center for Latter-day Saint Arts, whose donors helped make the exhibition possible. Heather Belnap, Ashlee Whitaker Evans, and Brontë Hebdon curated the exhibition.