“The Spine and Tooth of Santo Guerro,” 2007
Steel, brass, gold, bone, fabric, tooth
64 x 50½ x 74 in.
On loan from the de Young Museum, 2019
Collection of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Museum Purchase, gift of Dr. Thomas Jackson and Dr. Kathleen Grant, 2008
“Al Farrow: Wrath and Reverence” explores relationship between religion and violence at SUMA
Opening Aug. 5, the touring exhibition “Al Farrow: Wrath and Reverence” will make its eighth and final stop at Southern Utah Museum of Art on the campus of Southern Utah University.
“Wrath and Reverence” brings together pieces of Al Farrow’s work from private and public collections across the United States. These ornate sculptures depicting religious structures, ritual objects, and reliquaries are inspired by the world’s three major religions: Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. What makes Farrow’s work stand out from other religious artwork is his use of unconventional materials such as deconstructed guns, bullets, bone, glass, and steel.
“Beauty is not a concern for much of the art being produced today, yet it remains a universal attraction,” said Farrow. “I use the beauty of religious architecture to attract my viewers into closer inspection. Once close, the viewer discovers that these beautiful sculptures are made with violent materials. My hope is that the viewer is seduced into wondering about this juxtaposition and begins to think about the relationship between religion and war, which has existed throughout history.”
Beginning its national tour in 2015, “Wrath and Reverence” has also shown at Forum Gallery in New York City, 21c Museum Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky, Bellevue Arts Museum in Bellevue, Washington and Museum of Craft and Design in San Francisco among other museums and galleries. For this exhibition, SUMA received a loan from the de Young Museum, part of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, for the work titled “The Spine and Tooth of Santo Guerro.” This sculpture is inspired by European Catholic cathedrals and houses the spine of Santo Guerro, a fictional saint of war, as a commentary of how many European cathedrals were built with the intention of viewing religious relics.
“Securing a loan from the de Young Museum is a great achievement for our museum and our local arts community,” said Jessica Farling, director and curator of SUMA. “This loan is another example of how quickly SUMA is growing to become a world-class museum in the heart of southern Utah, bringing diverse and thought-provoking exhibitions to the region. Exhibitions like Wrath & Reverence help Cedar City continue to be known as Utah’s destination for the arts.”
Visitors will have the opportunity to meet the artist during multiple events throughout the exhibition. Farrow will attend the final SUMA Summer Nights event Aug. 1 when Friends of SUMA members and Utah Shakespeare Festival ticket holders will have the opportunity to meet him and receive an exclusive look at one piece from the show. He will also attend the member’s preview event on August 3, when Friends of SUMA members will have the opportunity to view the entire exhibition before it opens to the public. The museum is teaming up with A.P.E.X. at SUU to host Farrow for a public talk Sept. 19 at 11:30 a.m. in the Hunter Conference Center. Before the show closes, SUMA will host a gallery talk with Farling Oct. 1 at 4 p.m. “Al Farrow: Wrath and Reverence” will remain on display through Oct. 5.
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