The legacy of Marion R. Hyde, a notable figure in Utah's art scene, is being honored with a retrospective at the Tippetts & Eccles Galleries housed in the Chase Fine Arts Center; this event encapsulates the prolific journey of the late artist, educator and Utah State University professor who dedicated 35 years to mentoring young minds and hands in the nuances of visual arts, USU Today reports.
The exhibition, a labor of love, showcases art spanning from Hyde's master's thesis period all the way to the final pieces of his retirement, a curation led by his own bloodline, his son Matt Hyde, who has followed in his father's footsteps as an art educator, and Kathy Puzey, the current Art + Design Department Head at USU; Matt described the event as a “swan song,” the last of such scale, one he believes his father would have admired, as reported by USU Today. The display is arranged in a chronological walk-through of Hyde's versatile career, presenting transitions from silk screens to woodcuts to paintings and drawings, though his son admits what's hung on the galleries' walls is but a sliver of Hyde’s extensive output as he was "incredibly prolific, especially in retirement."
Among the voices echoing Hyde's influence is Billie Sessions, a former student, who shared her insights with USU Today, crediting a solo semester under Hyde's tutelage for shaping her into a ceramic artist and art educator, someone who has subsequently impacted countless others in the field of art education, she described her mentor's approach to teaching as deeply personal and attentive, acknowledging how his gentle yet critical engagement with pupils carved not just art, but careers and passions.
The art itself not only reflects Hyde's technical prowess but also his geographical affections, with artworks that traverse from 1970s figurative works to 1980s woodcut prints of Mexican landscapes, through a 1990s series on Park City, culminating in his retirement years where he portrayed the Utah landscapes he adored deeply, especially Capitol Reef which he considered his spiritual cathedral Viewers can observe this geographical narration on the "right side of the gallery," Matt shared, rounding off with the very painting that signified his father's last moments, a piece he completed shortly before he passed away in his studio, according to the materials obtained by USU Today.
For those unable to witness the convergence of history, art, and the personal journey of Marion R. Hyde in person, there's mercy in technology as his musings and artwork are accessible via his Facebook page or website, the retrospective open until the end of October. For more information, interested parties are encouraged to check out the events calendar provided by USU.
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