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Southern Utah University is a caring campus community where students come to explore their interests and prepare for meaningful careers and life experiences. With more than 145 undergraduate programs* and 18 graduate and certificate programs across six academic colleges, SUU proudly offers world-class, project-based learning opportunities where students gain professional experience before entering the job market.

Located in the world’s best backyard, SUU is the University of the Parks thanks to its close proximity to several outdoor recreational areas and its educational partnerships with the National Park Service. SUU’s safe, residential campus allows students - more than 10,000 - to create lifelong friendships along with once-in-a-lifetime outdoor adventures in conjunction with innovative academic endeavors.

Southern Utah University

Jessica Kinsey is the director of the Southern Utah Museum of Art at Southern Utah University. As the museum director, Kinsey provides leadership and vision for SUMA as an experiential learning environment with a balanced commitment to education and community. 

Her education and professional experience has given Kinsey expertise in the creation, reception and institutionalization of the visual arts, from the most ancient to the most contemporary. Kinsey is well-versed in museum management procedures, exhibit and educational programming and community interaction. In November 2016, Kinsey was a Forty Under 40 recipient, an award honoring exceptional individuals who have made a significant contribution to shaping the Oklahoma City landscape.

Kinsey earned a bachelor’s in art history and a master’s in museum studies from the University of Oklahoma. Starting as a part-time student employee, Kinsey worked at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art and moved up the ranks to become the museum’s Director of Public Engagement. She began her SUU career in July 2017.

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Southern Utah Museum of Art open to the public

Southern Utah Museum of Art named new director

SUMA Welcomes Jessica Farling as Director/Curator

Annual art exhibition at Fred Jones Jr. Museum shows off OU students' hard work

Silver Soirée to raise funds for abstract art acquisition

The world of James Surls, where thorny vines walk, molecules spin in space, and eyes embellish petals, will be on display at the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) at Southern Utah University. This exciting exhibition of more than 50 works of sculpture and drawing by the award-winning artist opens to the public on Saturday, July 7, 2018. 

Award-Winning Sculptor, James Surls, To Exhibit at SUMA

The world of James Surls, where thorny vines walk, molecules spin in space, and eyes embellish petals, is currently on display at the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) with more than 50 works of sculpture and drawing by the award-winning artist. 

Jessica Farling, Director of the Southern Utah Museum of Art at Southern Utah University is honored to host such a distinguished artist in southern Utah.
“I hope this exhibition not only inspires and intrigues museum visitors but that it also challenges our ideas of what art is and ultimately broadens our understanding and appreciation of art.” 

Nature figures prominently in Surls’ sculptures and drawings. Over the course of four decades, he has developed abstract forms in wood, steel, and bronze that are inspired by flowers, the human body, and rock formations. 

“Although much of the work feels of this world, there is work that feels of another world that can only be imagined. Surls finds his inspiration in two worlds: this one (i.e. the physical) and the universe or cosmos (i.e. the mental). The artwork that you see in the exhibition is a result of Surls’ excursions. Through his mind’s eye, he is free to go between the two worlds. As the viewer of his creations, we may find the familiar but in an unexpected or unimaginable way.”

Surls has received numerous honors for his work, including the Texas Medal of Arts Awards in the Visual Arts from the Texas Cultural Trust in 2013, and was named Artist of the Year by the American Institute of Architecture – Houston in 2012. His work has been displayed around the country including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), and the Guggenheim. In addition to major exhibitions throughout the United States, Surls’ large works have been commissioned in Singapore, Houston, New York, and Hollywood.

As the museum director, Farling provides leadership and vision for SUMA as an experiential learning environment with a balanced commitment to education and community. She is familiar with the media and available for an interview. Simply visit her profile.

Broaden Your Understanding - The World of Artist  James Surls with Jessica Farling

Jessica Farling, Southern Utah Museum of Art

Southern Utah Museum of Art

southern-utah-museum-of-art-receives-recognition-from-utah-museum-association

Director and Curator of the Southern Utah Museum of Art

Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) received statewide recognition this week earning the 2021 Award of Excellence from the Utah Museum Association (UMA). The award is given to the individual, team, or organization that has shown superior achievement within Utah's museum community in the last 18 months."We are honored to receive this award from UMA as it recognizes SUMA as a top museum in the state," said Jessica Kinsey, SUMA executive director. "Our team is creative and adaptable, and that was proven when we had to pivot during the early days of the pandemic. This honor recognizes all of the great ideas and hard work from our team to continue making an impact in our community."While the COVID-19 pandemic brought many challenges for museums, SUMA flourished during the unknown of the past year. The team has proven to be creative thinkers and took action when they saw a need in the community, especially for K-6 students who were unable to visit the museum during closures. The team quickly pivoted from in-person tours and events to create, prepare, and send 5,000 art kits home to students along with the free lunches provided by the Iron County School District. Their efforts to support access to art and supplies were so successful locally that they now offer distance learning kits to classrooms beyond Iron County. Education programs also transitioned to virtual engagement opportunities leading to an expanded audience and larger reach.Since opening its doors in 2016, SUMA has become a creative community gathering space. From features displaying works from students and community members to corsets from around the world and a retrospective of Jim Jones, exhibitions are varied, thought-provoking, and engaging.Found on the campus of Southern Utah University, the SUMA is home to the artwork of regional artists, faculty and student artists from the SUU Department of Art &amp; Design, as well as emerging and distinguished artists from around the country. 

Southern Utah Museum of Art Receives Recognition from Utah Museum Association

8-things-to-do-at-suus-dia-de-los-muertos-celebration

After a museum-record breaking event in 2018, Southern Utah Museum of Art and its partners are bringing back the Day of the Dead Celebration on Saturday, November 2 from 2-4 p.m. at The Beverley Center for the Arts on the campus of Southern Utah University. All activities are free of cost and open to the public. This year’s theme is the Monarch Butterfly Migration. Here are 8 things to look forward to this year! 1. Southern Utah Museum of Art ExhibitionThe Southern Utah Museum of Art will be displaying student submitted artwork of and inspired by the monarch butterfly. Monarch butterflies migrate to Mexico for the winter season around the Dia de los Muertos holiday. In Mexican tradition, monarch butterflies are believed to be spirits of the deceased. SUMA will also be showcasing artwork by Jimmie Jones from his time in Mexico as part of the Day of the Dead exhibit. The exhibit will run from October 14 to November 9, 2019.2. Frehner Museum ActivityThis year, the Garth and Jerri Frehner Museum of Natural History will be leading activities to teach visitors about monarch butterflies. Activities include making edible candy replicas of the monarch's life cycle and making paper mosaic monarch butterflies. 3. Ballet Folclórico Herencia HispanaThe Utah Shakespeare Festival’s Greenshow space will be utilized for live performances by the Ballet Folclórico Herencia Hispana. This traditional dance group is based in Cedar City and will be returning from last year’s celebration. 4. ColoringSeveral of SUU’s Art Department students have created coloring sheets inspired by the monarch butterflies of Dia de los Muertos. These coloring sheets and art supplies will be available all day November 2. 5. Bilingual StorytimeMembers of SUU’s Hispanic Honors Society, Sigma Delta Pi, will be holding a series of bilingual storytimes throughout the November 2 celebration. The stories will focus on the Dia de los Muertos celebration and will be read in both Spanish and English. 6. FoodExperience some of the classic foods of Dia de los Muertos. SUU will have traditional Mexican sweet treats such as pan de muerto available, as well as a hot beverage station and local food trucks. 7. Face PaintingFace painting will be available for everyone throughout the celebration again this year.8. Sugar Skull DecoratingAnother traditional component of Dia de los Muertos is sugar skull decorating. This will be available for everyone on November 2 as well. “After having more than 1,000 people visit the museum during last year’s event, we’ve expanded to the entire Beverley Center for the Arts and added additional partners and sponsors to reach even more of southern Utah this year,” said Jessica Farling, director/curator of SUMA. This year’s celebration is made possible by SUMA, SUU Art and Design, SUU Languages &amp; Philosophy, SUU Alumni and Community Relations, SUU College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Garth and Jerri Frehner Museum of Natural History, SUU Center for Diversity and Inclusion, SUU Latinx Student Alliance, SUU Student Programming Board, and Utah Shakespeare Festival. The event is sponsored in part by Artisans Gallery.

8 Things to do at SUU’s Dia de los Muertos Celebration

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Starting Saturday, October 13, the Southern Utah Museum of Art will be the first museum to display the traveling exhibition, Encounter Korea, designed to introduce Korean art to America.The exhibition features seven Korean-American and Korean artists with varying media including sculpture, painting and video work, curated in collaboration between SUMA and the Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles (KCCLA).Jessica Farling, Director of the Southern Utah Museum of Art at Southern Utah University is thrilled to be partnering with the Korean Cultural Center to share seven uniquely Korean perspectives with southern Utah. “Given that Cedar City has a sister city in Korea, this seemed like the best place to start as we strive to bring diverse exhibitions to the campus of Southern Utah University and our surrounding communities."South Korean and Korean-American artists have arrived in the international art world in recent years with a voice that resonates across both East and West. The Korean art scene has emerged from the traditions of its history to now reflect a world of connectivity and technology. This exhibition brings together a group of artists that highlight the technical mastery and conceptual finesse of their culture and reflect the way South Korea wants to project its image onto the world.“Culture trumps everything. Be it diplomatic ties or economic relations, when they are built through a cultural approach, the sustainability of the relationship becomes more solid,” said Nak Jung Kim, director of KCCLA. “Understanding each other’s cultures will build mutual trust and will eventually make barriers between us meaningless.” “Unique partnerships, such as this one with KCCLA, provide SUMA with the opportunity to bring other world cultures to our museum, which otherwise would not be possible,” said Farling. “Museums can, and should, be a place for multicultural dialogue.”As the museum director, Farling provides leadership and vision for SUMA as an experiential learning environment with a balanced commitment to education and community. She is familiar with the media and available for an interview. Simply visit her profile.

Korean Perspectives in Southern Utah

Organized by Oklahomans for the Arts, Oklahoma Arts Day is an annual event where community leaders from across Oklahoma rally at the State Capitol to raise awareness among state legislators of the economic and social impact of state funding for the arts in urban and rural communities. Julia Kirt (Oklahomans for the Arts), Erinn Gavaghan (Norman Arts Council), Jessica Farling (Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art), and Melissa Smith (Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art) share why public funding for the arts is important.

Produced by Dennis Spielman

Music by Josh Woodward
http://www.joshwoodward.com

Jessica Farling art museum director

Oklahoma Arts Day [Uncovering Oklahoma]

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