Sears gallery opens with paintings for sale

Dixie State College puts on one of the biggest art shows and sale in the state of Utah every year.

The annual Sears Dixie Invitational Art Show and Sale will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary. It will feature 170 unique, renowned artists around the United States with nearly 300 pieces of art to enjoy. Artists in the show will be there on Feb. 17 at 3 p.m. in the Eccles Fine Arts Center on the campus of DSC and everybody is welcome to come.

It will be conducted by 2011 Purchase Prize and Best Show winner "Bust of Light" an oil painting by Jerry Read Hancock. He was the first in the Invitational history to take home both awards.

"This show is perfect for anyone, it's free to attend, you can bring a date, you can gain so much knowledge from the art, and maybe even become a collector one day," said Kathy Cieslewicz, curator of the Sears Art Museum Gallery. "Art is something everybody should have in their life because it can open so many more opportunities."

The Sears Invitational is a great addition to St. George because of all the attraction it brings from people around America.

Cieslewicz said: "This is not some ordinary art show with ordinary artist; In fact this maybe one of the greatest art events around, and it takes place here at DSC."

The art gallery not only is a great event, but also helps the economy.

"The Sears art show truly helps the economy by filling restaurants, hotels and businesses. In simple terms, the more attraction at the gallery the more attraction for St. George." Cieslewicz said. "I want to lay down a foundation to help St. George become a buyer's art destination, which is why this is such an important art event."

Few people know that the Sears art show contains some of the most talented artists in the world. For example, Del Parson who has taught at DSC for the past 20 years. He has taught at other schools but has said he loves the great atmosphere and sprit here at Dixie.

"The sales and art in the Sears Invitational show cannot compare to other art shows in the state," Parson said. "I make a living with my paintings, and this show is a great place to sell them."

Parson has a few of his paintings in the show this year with one of them being a painting of Christ. This beautiful painting was actually done in his art class. He said he was making the students do their final projects, and he would do a final as well.

"These art shows are very important to people because art is a visual communication that expresses the things closet to you," Parson said.

The artists will be available, and the art sale will begin Feb. 17 at 3 p.m. A dinner after the viewing will be available for $75. The gallery will open to the public Saturday, Feb. 18, and will display through Sunday, March 25. The gallery will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and on Sundays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Cieslewicz said: "People coming to the show for their first time will be surprised by the quality and range of all the artwork styles. There is a piece of art for everyone to enjoy."