Dennis Smith (Sculptor)
Encyclopedia
Dennis V. Smith is an American sculptor. He is a Latter-day Saint and some of his artwork deals with LDS themes.
He is most noted in LDS circles for having created the statues that form the monument to women in Nauvoo
.
. He graduated from Brigham Young University
in 1966.
Smith began his art production in 1968, working in his father's chicken coop.
Smith created a sculpture named "Christina" that is named for his Danish immigrant great-grandmother and is in Copenhagen that portrays her having a strong faith. There is also a casting on "Christina" in the Statue Garden at Brigham Young University between the Museum of Art and the Harris Fine Arts Center.
Another one of his statues, this one in Rebild
, Denmark represents an LDS emigrant family about to depart Denmark.
There are also works by Smith in the Salt Lake International Airport and Primary Children's Medical Center
.
In 1989, Smith's Signing of the Constitution sculpture was placed in US embassies in Moscow and London due to a donation of money from Richard Headlee
.
Smith's In The Family Circle was given to Joan Bolger, wife of New Zealand's prime minister James Bolger by Richard G. Scott
and other church representatives in 1996.
He studio is located in Alpine, Utah
, and he is a long time resident of Highland, Utah
.
His First Step statue has also been presented to many dignitaries by the church, including president George H. W. Bush
.
He is most noted in LDS circles for having created the statues that form the monument to women in Nauvoo
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
.
Life
From 1961-1963 Smith served as an LDS missionary in DenmarkDenmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. He graduated from Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
in 1966.
Smith began his art production in 1968, working in his father's chicken coop.
Smith created a sculpture named "Christina" that is named for his Danish immigrant great-grandmother and is in Copenhagen that portrays her having a strong faith. There is also a casting on "Christina" in the Statue Garden at Brigham Young University between the Museum of Art and the Harris Fine Arts Center.
Another one of his statues, this one in Rebild
Rebild municipality
Rebild municipality is a municipality in North Denmark Region in Denmark. It covers an area of 628 km² and a total population of 28,753 ....
, Denmark represents an LDS emigrant family about to depart Denmark.
There are also works by Smith in the Salt Lake International Airport and Primary Children's Medical Center
Primary Children's Medical Center
Primary Children's Medical Center is a 252-bed children's hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is owned by Intermountain Healthcare and operates in affiliation with the University of Utah...
.
In 1989, Smith's Signing of the Constitution sculpture was placed in US embassies in Moscow and London due to a donation of money from Richard Headlee
Richard Headlee
Richard Harold Headlee was the author of the Headlee Amendment, a Michigan law that places restrictions on tax increases without voter approval. He was also the 1982 Republican candidate for Governor of Michigan...
.
Smith's In The Family Circle was given to Joan Bolger, wife of New Zealand's prime minister James Bolger by Richard G. Scott
Richard G. Scott
Richard Gordon Scott is an American nuclear engineer and a current member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Currently, he is the seventh most senior apostle among the ranks of the church.-Early years:Richard G...
and other church representatives in 1996.
He studio is located in Alpine, Utah
Alpine, Utah
Alpine is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 9555 at the 2010 census. Alpine has been one of the many quickly-growing cities of Utah since the 1970s, and especially the 1990s. It is located on the...
, and he is a long time resident of Highland, Utah
Highland, Utah
Highland is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is approximately thirty miles from Salt Lake City and is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2010 census the population was 15,523, a 90.0% increase over the 2000 figure of 8,172...
.
His First Step statue has also been presented to many dignitaries by the church, including president George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
.