World renowned artist Del Parson presents at Dixie Forum

Stock image, St. George News

ST. GEORGE – The community will have the opportunity to learn about fine art painting from a world-renowned artist when Del Parson, Dixie State University professor, presents at DSU’s “Dixie Forum: A Window on the World” series on Tuesday at noon in the Dunford Auditorium of the Browning Resource Center. Admission is free, and all are invited.

Photo of Del Parson as he is painting, St. George, undated | Photo courtesy of Dixie State University, St. George News
Del Parson as he is painting, St. George, undated | Photo courtesy of Dixie State University, St. George News

Parson earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from BYU and has been teaching portrait painting and drawing at Dixie State University since 1988. He is an internationally known religious and portrait painter and has earned numerous awards in regional, national and international art shows. He is widely published in fine art prints and other publications. His painting “Jesus the Christ” can be found throughout the world.

The Dixie Forum series will continue with its final presentation for the 2014 fall semester when Lin Alder presents on energy efficiency at noon on Dec. 9 in the Dunford Auditorium.

Dixie Forum is designed to introduce the St. George community and DSU students, faculty and staff to diverse ideas and personalities while widening their worldviews via a 50-minute presentation. Dixie State students can earn one college credit by signing up for HUM 1000, attending lectures regularly, carefully considering the ideas expressed and writing about the presentations.

DATE PRESENTER TOPIC
Dec. 2 Del Parson, DSU art professor Fine Art Painting
Dec. 9 Lin Alder Energy Efficiency

Event details and resources

  • What: “Dixie Forum: A Window on the World”
  • When: Tuesday, Dec. 2, at noon
  • Where: Dunford Auditorium of the Browning Resource Center, Dixie State University campus, 225 South 700 East, St. George
  • Contact: DSU Forum coordinator John Burns at 435-879-4712 or burns@dixie.edu
  • Dixie forum website

Related posts

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!

14 Comments

  • Visiting Anthropologist December 1, 2014 at 8:34 am

    “Dixie Forum is designed to introduce the St. George community and DSU students, faculty and staff to diverse ideas and personalities while widening their worldviews…”

    Really? By featuring a painter who works for the LDS Church? How about featuring a non-LDS artist with a somewhat wider worldview? The St. George community is more than Mormons.

    • Sarge December 1, 2014 at 9:01 am

      Sounds like you were turned down for your opportunity to give a window to the world presentation. I would think that a slide show from a whirled renowned visiting anthropologist would be fascinating. Keep trying.

      • Visiting Anthropologist December 1, 2014 at 9:11 am

        No, just frustrated when I learn that the “world reknowned” comes largely because his paintings are in Mormon churches and homes all over the world (240 works commissioned by the Mormon church)…It’s a narrow view of the world. If they were in recognized non-Mormon galleries all over the world, I’d have a different view.

        • Koolaid December 1, 2014 at 10:34 am

          Their depicted paintings of middle eastern biblical events tend to be very “white” with facial features that look more european than middle eastern. Anyone who has been to europe and the middle east can attest to the distinct difference in appearance. But then, I think any painter who depicts Jesus and Joseph as very fair skinned and soft handed individuals fails to understand their trade was carpentry in the middle east and what the populace and climate is like in that region.

    • Koolaid December 1, 2014 at 10:35 am

      Exactly the slant that many people tire of in public settings.

  • PROTECT THE SHEEP December 1, 2014 at 11:35 am

    he paints pictures of Jesus(and probably Joe Smith). What more do you need?

  • NOTAGAIN December 1, 2014 at 2:15 pm

    It wouldn’t surprise me if the Rev. Jesse Jackson has a painting of the Messiah in his residents that look like a cross between a Black Obama wearing a turbine and a shirtless statue of Al Sharpton in drag.

    • koolaid December 1, 2014 at 9:16 pm

      Why would Jackson have a picture of bush, your messiah?

  • Visiting Anthropologist December 1, 2014 at 4:49 pm

    I’m not arguing or criticizing Mr. Parson’s work as an artist or his subject matter, just the headline claim of him being world-renowned when that claim is apparently primarily because his paintings were commissioned and then distributed by the Mormon church, not the wider art community. This is a little like saying Joseph Smith is a world-renowned author. And it’s a screwy way to view the world. Claims like this only support the narcissistic Mormon view of themselves.

    • MickeyD December 1, 2014 at 7:32 pm

      The only narcissist that I’m aware of is you Visiting A. DSU can and does invite all sorts of people to present at the Dixie Forum, from all backgrounds. This instance happens to include a local artist that is known around the world. Get over yourself and your “gotta hate those mormon” sensitivities. A large part of this community is LDS and enjoys hearing from Del. Attend another event if this doesn’t suit your fancy. Or wait for the next Dixie Forum, maybe you’ll get invited to present. And believe it or not, I’d probably come and listen.

  • koolaid December 1, 2014 at 9:13 pm

    Go back under your rock caveman. The world of art doesn’t revolve around mormon art except in the minds of those who choose to blind to all else. There is nothing worldly to someone which such limits

    • ZONKERB December 2, 2014 at 6:18 am

      @Kookaid, I’m guessing your koolaid is spiked. Better re-read your post, it makes no sense at all.

      • Koolaid December 2, 2014 at 9:05 am

        Think about it. Would you call art the is centered only around the mormon church a worldly art? Have you ever traveled the world to see different art, or do you travel the world to see only mormon church art? Also, if the focus for guest presenters is church and Utah politically oriented, it isn’t worldly by any means. If the University guest presenters are primarily church and Utah political centered presenters, maybe instead of calling it a “University”, go back to calling it St George Stake Academy. I thought it was odd that the travel itineraries of student trips offered through the school entailed visiting mormon churches and facilities. Really? A public school with such focus on one religion? Key words: PUBLIC SCHOOL.

  • Visiting Anthropologist December 2, 2014 at 10:31 am

    There are at least two of us who see this point. There’s a difference between disagreeing and attacking. But anyone who disagrees with the Mormons is automatically guilty of “attacking.” This is crazy talk. Check out the symptoms for narcissistic behavior. DSU can invite anyone they want to lecture. Just stay with reality when promoting the speaker.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.