Local sculptor models religion
Sculptor Frank McEntire regularly visits garage sales, antique shops, Deseret Industries and even garbage dumps.
All in the name of art.
McEntire spoke Wednesday at the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art. His exhibition is entitled “Hidden Text. “
McEntire assembles objects and imagery from many different religious and cultural settings. He uses rosaries, crucifixes, pages from hymn books, hair, nails, candles, salt and other religious items in his art. McEntire has also used models of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint temples in his work.
“It’s like a journal,” McEntire said about his art. “I don’t make any money with my art. I do it just because I’m compelled to do it. ”
McEntire showed slides of his art and also quotes from other artists.
“Divining is something that runs through my work,” McEntire said. He described divining as nature revealing something.
He turned a stove into an altar for one piece. McEntire said he once did a series of three altars. He calls them angels and dedicated them to ecology and nature.
“In most cases, my work is participant work,” McEntire said.
One of his pieces is called “Whisper,” and is almost as big as he is. McEntire said a person can whisper into a long cylinder and the rock placed at the bottom will listen to every person’s problems. If people listen close enough, it might whisper an answer, he said.
“Spend some time with a piece of work,” McEntire said. “Let it speak to you. “
McEntire spoke about containment and how all art is always contained, often in a museum or in some other place.
“Only in nature itself can you start to step out of containment,” he said. McEntire said people should break through limits and challenge themselves.
One of his pieces entitled “Vendora” is of a small vending machine, which was originally used for candy. McEntire used it to put religious objects inside for display.
Another piece was created using a Timex watch case.
McEntire said he is a firm believer that art is powerful in the universe.
“All things are connected in some weird way,” he said.
McEntire moved from Texas to Salt Lake City in 1976. He is a well known independent curator, including his work as a curator for two exhibitions for the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art. McEntire has published numerous reviews and feature articles as the former art critic for both the Salt Lake Tribune and Salt Lake Magazine.
He continues to live and work in Salt Lake City and is the executive director for the Utah Arts Council.
McEntire’s exhibitions have been shown in Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas. “Hidden Text” is on display in the NHE Museum until Feb. 19.
-sdobson@cc. usu. edu
Frank McEntire presents his artwork at the Nora Eccles Museum of Art Wedneday night. (Photo by Jennifer Wheatley)