Description
Plowing the Valley of The Great Salt Lake
Mahonri Mackintosh Young, 1930
A flapping cloud of exuberant seagulls circles around a father and son as they till their Utah field. With the hope that accompanies a new planting season, the father pushes the plow deep into the earth while the son guides the horses. Birds swoop about, snatching at fresh worms and squawking in their excitement. The blue mountains remind us of the expansive land beyond their farm, while a simple split rail fence suggests the accomplishments they are striving to build upon.
Although he lived in New York and Connecticut for much of his life, Mahonri Young was born and raised in Salt Lake City. Known as Utah’s most prominent artist during his life, he was recognized for his paintings, etchings, and especially his sculptures. Many of Young’s paintings celebrate his Western roots, depicting the rugged territory and ambitious workers. (People in a Hard Land: Iconic Images of Life in the American West – April 6, 2012 – April 13, 2013)
Mahonri Young’s art is often informed by memories of his childhood in Utah. This image of spring plowing in Salt Lake Valley also occurs in drawings, a sculptural relief, and in watercolors. Seagulls saved the lives of early settlers by devouring the hoards of crickets destroying the crops. Here, the birds appear like winged messengers portending a prosperous harvest. Equally evident is the theme of harmony – between nature and man, between the farmer and his team, and above all between a father and his son.
Take home a print of Plowing the Valley of the Great Salt Lake and learn more about Young here.
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