Provo, UT

I bet most of you already knew that there was an art museum in the University Mall, but I was shocked when I found out. I’d lived here for probably three years and been to that mall countless times, but I’d never seen it. Well, today (after I’ve been living here for over five years) I went for the first time. My husband is taking an art class at UVU and had to go for an assignment, so he took me with him. It was a really cool experience, and I’m glad I finally went.

The museum entrance is on the south side of the mall, between the Gap and Nordstrom’s. Or, if you’re coming from inside the mall, there’s a little hallway all the way at the end of the Nordstrom wing, on the right side in between Shade Clothing and Ideal Image. You go up the stairs and down that hallway, and there it is. It’s open Monday through Friday from 11 am to 7 pm, and admission is free. For the holidays, it is closed December 24-26 and December 31-January 1.

There are several different collections there right now, from several different mediums. Most of them are paintings, but there’s a collection of photographs at the beginning that is really interesting, and some ceramic sculptures at the end. I had two favorites–the James Christensen collection and the Harvey Breverman collection. As is the case in most museums, there are benches throughout facing all the exhibits, so you can sit and contemplate the meaning of art if you wish, or just rest your feet. We are very lucky in Utah Valley to have such easy, free access to a lot of culture, and the Woodbury Art Museum is a good example of that privilege. I recommend taking advantage of it.