FAIRVIEW—As part of its Rotating Artist Series, the Fairview Museum will be exhibiting the artwork of Cassandria and John Parsons of Spring City; and the couple will be honored at a reception on Friday, Oct. 15 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the museum.
According Donna Seager, museum spokesperson, Cassandria was born in China and grew up in Hong Kong, when the city was a British colony. Her family had a house in the city and she lived next to a print shop. As a little girl, she spent numerous hours at the shop after school and was quite fascinated by the arts and printing techniques they used. She also received colorful scrap paper from them as gifts. She spent many pleasurable hours creating and drawing, unleashing her youthful imagination onto her endless supplies of paper, Seager said.
“In 1964, my family immigrated to USA, and Utah became our permanent home,” Cassandria said. “I took interest in art and received my BFA from the University of Utah. I worked in advertising in my early career, but I was not satisfied with the emphasis on materialism. It is the personal expressions of fine art, its color, line, and form which satisfies my own creativity.
“Now, in the beauty of rural Spring City where I have lived for the past 20 years, the brilliant blue sky and crisp clean air awaken my senses and stimulate my desire to paint. Whether it is the sight of an aging barn, the sound of the morning birds, the chickens running freely in a garden or the vivid colors of the country flowers, these are the elements that call me to my brushes. I love every moment of my painting life.”
In 2019, she was awarded a grant from the Utah Division of Art and Museum to create works for the 150 years Golden Spike celebration, which were later purchased by the Utah Alice Merrill Horn Collection, Seager said.
John, who was born and raised in Salt Lake City, said, “Art was always the center focus of my life. As a freshman at the University of Utah, I had basic studies to sample different mediums in art. I had two excellent mentors at my first year in art school: Doug Snow in painting and drawing and Dorothy Bearnson in ceramics.
“After my first two years of prerequisites at the University of Utah, I was at a crossroads to choose between painting or ceramics as my art major. Doug Snow’s masterful abstract work was both dynamic and thought provoking. He was a teacher who had the gift to inspire. However, clay had definitely the most attraction to me. Especially if you happen to walk pass the hall way where the ceramic class located, Dorothy Bearnson would come out to invite you to try a little clay work today. I had great experiences as her student and worked in clay for many years after I graduated from the U. I remember in a light hearted moment, Dorothy Bearnson jokingly warned that a successful potter must learn how to jump over a fence with a 50 pounds bag of clay on his back. Now at age 73, I appreciate her comment and prefer to lift a brush. Many previous teachings from Doug Snow have echoed back to my mind as I paint, I feel much inspiration and freedom from a great master. I am happily doing my art in Spring City, sharing a studio with my wife and artist Cassandria. We both enjoy a tranquil life, and the excitement of painting.”
Everyone is invited to share in the excellence of this art show, Seager said. The Parsons’ art will be displayed from Oct. 15 to Dec. 4.
