'Art is Everywhere' at the Cosgriff Art Show

Intermountain Catholic

Photo 1 of 2

J. E. Cosgriff Memorial Fourth-grader Paul Oliver, wins a blue ribbon for his Mona Lisa.

SALT LAKE CITY — Richard Vroom said he sees art everywhere and in everything. He was the featured artist at the 16th Annual J. E. Cosgriff Memorial School Art Show "Art is Everywhere," Sept. 30 to Oct. 1.

Vroom teaches art through the University of Utah Division of Continuing Education, the Jewish Community Center, and gives individual and group lessons.

He grew up in Michigan, and in grade school he was always the student who could draw the best. He learned basic art skills in high school and art history at Michigan State College, but went on to receive an engineering degree. Following graduation, he moved to Colorado for a couple of years before moving to Utah. He worked in the finance industry, raced bicycles, and skied.

Twelve years ago Vroom rekindled his artistic talent and taught himself to paint. He has always been drawn to watercolors because of their luminous appearance. His style focuses on dramatic value contrasts created by light and shadows. He is fascinated by the way the light reflects and accentuates whatever it hits. He said he can look out his window in the morning and see his blue and green garbage cans, and when the sun hits them just right, even they would make a perfect painting.

"Each year St. Ambrose Parish and J. E. Cosgriff Memorial School hold a student art competition open to all youth in the parish and the school," said Erin Bonk, Art Show co-chairwoman. "The school receives 65 percent of the proceeds, and the parish receives 35 percent."

Co-chairwoman Lori Cook said people in the parish and parents from the school know many local artists, and that makes soliciting artwork much easier. The festival is a celebration of the arts within the community. All of the art must be original.

The Art Show also features silent auction items and a gift boutique. A light buffet was provided by Greg Neville, owner of Lugano Restaurant. Neville's daughter Emerson, a first grader at Cosgriff, also won a blue ribbon for her painting.