"The influence of art is so powerful in shaping our lives for a higher appreciation of the creations of our God that we cannot afford to neglect an acquaintance with it. We should be as eager for its companionship in our homes as we are eager for chairs to sit upon or for food to sustain our lives, for it has as important a mission in shaping our character and in conducing to our happiness as anything that we term necessities. Life is incomplete without it. A religious life is not an ideal religious life without art."
-Joseph Hafen
While I was trying to figure out what to do for my final project, I decided to talk to my professor about it and see what we could come up with. I knew I wanted to do something about family, and, while we were talking, it came up that my great-great-grandfather was a Utah artist by the name of John Hafen. My professor suggested that it might be fun to go around Utah and take pictures of the places that he painted over 100 years ago. I strongly agreed.
Geneva Dance Hall and Resort, Utah Lake
This picture, along with Landing at Geneva, was taken at what is now the Lindon Marina. Geneva Steel was named after this resort. Unfortunately, due to various droughts that the lake has gone through, I am uncertain of where the exact shoreline was at that time in his life.
Landing at Geneva, Utah Lake
Springville Sunrise
I struggled with this picture for days. I included the entire mountain and space that Hafen did, but my picture was always much wider than the original painting. I then realized that John Hafen had used artistic license and condensed the mountain. It was a relief to know that it was not an error on my part.
Seagulls
My great-aunt owned the original Seaguls, but sold it a few years ago. Before she did, my grandparents made copies of it for various family members. It now resides in a private collection somewhere.
Springville, My Mountain Home
This picture was taken just outside of the house that Hafen built in Springville. My mother was showing me where he had lived. I looked at the little pictures of his paintings I had brought with me, and I knew instantly that he had painted it right outside of his own home.
The Hafen Home
This house was built and occupied by John Hafen, his wife Thora, and their ten children. He bought the land, previously owned by the Crandall family, with one of his paintings. The home was built in a Swiss chalet style.
Springville Pasture
I do not know if this is the same exact pasture that Hafen painted, but I saw the large tree right next to a fence in a beautiful pasture. I could not resist the similarities.
Saltair
John Hafen painted a picture of Saltair some time before 1910. Since he painted it, Saltair has gone through two fires, and regularly declining attendance. The Saltair I photographed used to be an Air Force hanger. It is one mile west of the original Saltair, and has recently been host to a number of high profile performances.
Springville Museum of Art
In 1903, John Hafen and sculptor Cyrus Dallin each donated a piece of artwork to Springville High School. In the following years more and more Utah artists would donate various pieces of art until, over time, the collection turned into the Springville Museum of Art. They began receiving funding and were able to buy more precious works. The museum has continued to grow and inspire the minds of thousands of people.
Thank you to the kind docents at the museum for all of the help that they gave me. Without their help and their website, I would not have been able to accomplish as much as I did. You can visit their website for more information at www.smofa.org.
Head Stone
John Hafen passed away June 3, 1910. He had only just begun to receive recognition for his work. He finally saved up enough money to bring his wife and family to the Indiana home he had recently purchased. Five weeks later he died of pneumonia. His family returned to Springville to bury him there.
"John Hafen is not dead; his memory will live on as well as his spirit and work and they will appreciate in value and new beauties will be discovered from them and the family will be blessed by them." Excerpt from the eulogy given by Elder B. H. Roberts of the First Council of the Seventy on June 9, 1910.
Note: Due to time constraints and school schedules I was not able to harmonize the seasons in John Hafens paintings.
