Rita Wright (museum director)
Rita Wright | |
|---|---|
| Born | Rita Riddle |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Art Historian, Curator |
| Employer | Springville Museum of Art |
| Spouse | Wes Wright |
| Children | 5 |
Rita Wright is an American
Early life and career
Wright completed bachelor's and master's degrees at Brigham Young University (BYU). She received a Doctor of Philosophy in European History from the University of Utah.[2]
Wright and her husband operated an art and design business in California before moving to Utah to become an instructor at BYU.[2] Wright led the academic department at the Brigham Young University Museum of Art (MOA) while also teaching at the university.[3] She worked for eight years at the MOA, working on major exhibits of the works of Carl Bloch and James Tissot.[4] "Artists through the ages have been able to express their testimony and beliefs through their work," explained Wright at the Bloch exhibit that hosted more than 250,000 visitors.[5]
Wright was the Curator of Art and Artifacts at the Church History Museum until October 1, 2012.[6] She also worked on the museum's exhibition team.[7]
Springville Museum of Art
Wright was named the new director of the Springville Museum of Art on August 16, 2012, replacing longtime director Vern Swanson.[2] She curated a number of exhibitions including Sacred Spaces: Archetypes and Symbols in 2017 and Curiouser & Curiouser: The Artwork of James Christensen, Cassandra Barney, Emily McPhie & Family.[8][9] Wright led the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Springville Art Museum and the Spanish Colonial Revival style building.[10] Wright has been called one of the "smartest critics we know" by the Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought.[11]
Personal life
Wright is married to Wes Wright and has five children.[12] In 2020, she discussed the art of dying and her own near death experience on the podcast In Retrospect.[13]
References
- ^ Hales, Laura Harris. "Art is sacred space with Rita Wright", Deseret News, 29 March 2017. Retrieved on 10 April 2021.
- ^ a b c Balzotti, Debbie. "Springville Museum of Art announces new director", Daily Herald, 17 August 2012. Retrieved on 10 April 2021.
- ^ Clark, Ehren. "BYU Museum of Art is a production", Deseret News, 19 April 2007. Retrieved on 10 April 2021.
- ^ Means, Sean P. "Springville Museum of Art gets new director", The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 August 2012. Retrieved on 10 April 2021.
- ^ Warburton, Nicole. "Danish artworks resonate with LDS Church members", KSL News, 28 April 2011. Retrieved on 12 April 2021.
- ^ "Springville Museum announces new director", 15 Bytes, 18 August 2012. Retrieved on 12 April 2021.
- ^ "Rita Wright Appointed Springville Museum of Art Director", Mapleton News, 23 August 2012. Retrieved on 10 April 2021.
- ^ Harris, Sarah. "Utah artists make spirituality visual — but not in the ways you'd expect", Deseret News, 19 October 2017. Retrieved on 10 April 2021.
- ^ Stack, Peggy Fletcher. "Utah museum displays works of artist James C. Christensen and two daughters", The Salt Lake Tribune, 6 January 2014. Retrieved on 10 April 2021.
- ^ Harris, Sarah. "Happy 80th, Springville Museum of Art! Utah's first museum gets ready to celebrate", Deseret News, 10 November 2017. Retrieved on 10 April 2021.
- ^ Davis, Andi Pitcher. "The Absurd in Art and Mormonism", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Vol. 52, No. 3 (Fall 2019), pp. 181-188. Retrieved on 12 April 2021.
- ^ Hoag, Karen. "I learned at my mother's knee", Daily Herald, 10 May 2015. Retrieved on 10 April 2021.
- ^ Thurman, Kendall. "Episode 041, "The Art of Dying," an interview with Rita Wright", In Retrospect, 28 March 2020. Retrieved on 12 April 2021.
External links
- Springville Museum of Art Official website
- PBS Video Utah Conversations with Ted Capener: Dr. Rita Wright