9/11 Exhibition Makes Its Final Appearance at SMA

By Sarah Shepherd

Springville, UT August 10, 2011The Springville Museum of Art will be featuring the final, tenth anniversary edition of Frank McEntires Spontaneous Memorial from September 10October 14. Exhibited annually on the anniversary of 9/11, McEntire's exhibition venerates the tragic event through thought provoking installations. His most prominent piece, Memorial Fence, is interactive and made of 3,000 tags, one for each victim, written on by exhibition visitors expressing their reflections of 9/11. McEntires inspiration for this exhibition came from seeing altar-like memorials lining the sidewalks in New York City covered with flowers and notes. Just like visitors to the streets of Manhattan, visitors to the museum will have several opportunities to write their thoughts about 9/11 and add it to the exhibition. The title of the exhibition came from a radio interview with a widow of a 9/11 victim. She said she was soothed after the attack by the spontaneous memorials that strangers suddenly and unexpectedly put up throughout the city. Explaining why he chose to conclude this exhibition at the Springville Museum of Art, McEntire said the Museum holds a special place in his life as an artist in Utah. It is a wonderful place. We pretty much raised our children here, McEntire said. This museum is an extension of the communitys family room. McEntires Spontaneous Memorial was first on display in 2004 and has been shown in eight locations over the last eight years. Many have asked him why he persisted in this project. It is as mysterious to me as the creative inclinations that lead me down the path of an artist in the first place: more emotion than intellect, more spiritual than material, more question than answer, McEntire said. Spontaneous Memorial will be on view at the Springville Museum of Art from September 10October 14. Visit Utahs first museum for the visual fine arts! The Springville Museum of Art is known as the foremost repository of Utah Art and displays the largest public collection of 20th Century Soviet Socialist Realist Art in the western United States. The beautiful Spanish Colonial style structure is located at 126 E. 400 S. in Springville, UT. Admission is free and Museum hours are: Tuesday to Saturday, 10 am-5 pm; Wednesday, 10 am-9 pm; and Sunday, 3-6 pm. Closed Mondays and holidays. For more information about the Museum, exhibitions, or programs visit www.smofa.org or call (801) 489-2727.