THE ST. GEORGE ART MUSUEM hosted on Wednesday its monthly Art Conversation and the opening reception for its new wildfire-themed exhibit, “Facing Fire.”

The new exhibit focuses on photography, ceramics, and other mediums, all highlighting the devastation of wildfire in the West. Natalie Gula, the museum director, experienced first-hand the 2018 Thomas Fire in California, which burned large swaths of the state's central coast and was at the time the largest fire in the state's history. That fire is one of those depicted in some of the art and in a video available for view on the second floor of the museum.  

“That's one of the reasons why I ended up out here in Utah was because there was no smoke," Gula said. "So, it's just a reminder for me in that way. But I also think, for this community, I know that there are some folks that might have certain feelings towards people who are moving here from California. And so, I think that it's just really an opportunity to see what Californians are faced with right now."  

‘Facing Fire’ art exhibit shows the danger and beauty of West Coast wildfires

Though the collection's main theme is fire, there are other messages embedded in the art, themes that also reflect on the creativity that can come after an artist faces fire.  

“What I really liked about this exhibit is that it shows the interesting aspects of it the mesmerizing parts in the flames, and all the smoke and the beautiful patterns they make, but also shows the devastation you're looking at," said Brad Esplin, a St. George Fire Department Battalion Chief who attended the opening.

Representatives from the SGFD, the Washington County Water Conservancy District and the Bureau of Land Management were invited to the reception.  

“It's tough, just how devastating it can be with not only our structure, our landscape, and just everything in relation," said Vasu Mudliar, an SGFD apparatus driver. "It just breaks my heart to see, honestly, but it's awesome that we get to do what we want to do."

“Facing Fire” will be available to view at the St. George Art Museum through August, each Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

On July 20, Norma I. Quintana, one of the artists in the collection, will be giving a talk via Zoom on her “Forage from Fire” series. The presentation will be streamed at the museum.  

To learn more about the St. George Art Museum and the Facing Fire exhibit, visit www.sgcity.org/artmuseum.