The hunter green trim had to go.
When Melissa Carter assumed the role of curator and manager of the St. George Art Museum, one of the first things she did was to request—“incessantly,” she recalls—that the exhibition areas of the venue be given a fresh coat of paint.
Today, the pristine upper and lower galleries provide the ideal showcase for the best of contemporary art, alongside more traditional pieces from the City of St. George’s extensive permanent collection. For Melissa, who’s been in her post for the past year, playing a lead role in the museum’s evolution to an important player in the arts space has been an exhilarating experience.
“It’s such an exciting, fun time to be here,” she notes. “We’re unique in that we have older works dating back to the 1800s, and we’re also showing very new works. While we hope that people get a sense that the museum is new and modern, we also want to respect the history of this place and this community.”
That history stretches back to the 1930s, when the site was home to a sugar beet seed storage facility. Following a stretch of nearly 20 years when the building stood vacant, the newly constructed Art Museum opened its doors in January 1997.
Since then, the museum has celebrated the best of Utah creative talent, while also spotlighting the works of nationally renowned artists. With an exhibition and events schedule that’s booked out more than two years in advance, Melissa and her staff ensure all museum visitors have a world-class experience—whether they be sophisticated art aficionados or children just beginning to interact with art.
Toward that end, the museum offers a monthly slate of “SmART Saturday” classes for the younger set, introducing them to surrealism, watercolor painting, screen printing and more. Spring break and summer camp sessions are also available; these include exhibits tours—typically led by docents—followed by classes at the St. George Social Hall.
Says Melissa, “We believe these programs are very important, since many of the public schools don’t offer art classes at all. For many kids, coming here for the first time is also the first time they’ve ever been to a museum. So, it’s essential that we create a great, memorable experience for them.”
In the future, Melissa hopes to add painting and illustration classes for adults to the museum’s offerings, along with film screenings. Next month will see the museum’s first-ever fundraising gala, a Western-themed event to be held in the courtyard of the historic Pioneer Center for the Arts complex. The affair, to include food, beverages and line dancing with Eric Dodge, will be capped by a fine art auction.
Melissa invites the community to discover—or rediscover—this crown jewel of the city’s Historic District and make it a regular arts destination.
“St. George deserves to have a really great art museum, and we feel like we’re providing that. Bring the family, bring the kids, and walk around. Donations are always appreciated—but come regardless of your ability to pay; everyone’s welcome!”
The St. George Art Museum is located at 47 East 200 North in St. George. For more information, and to purchase gala tickets, visit www.sgcityutah.gov/parksandrec/arts___culture/art_museum/index.php.
"St. George deserves to have a really great art museum, and we feel like we’re providing that."
– Melissa Carter