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Sam Penrod A small Utah art gallery is getting some help from several artists whose work is known around the country.
It's art that is simple and art that is meant to inspire. That's the idea behind the Simple Earth Foundation in American Fork.
Cristina Peterson, Simple Earth Foundation: "We feel like art should be available to everyone and affordable to everyone; and we have wanted to study art before and the resources have not been available in our cities."
A recent addition to the Simple Earth Foundation is a steel sculpture, created as a monument to what was Geneva Steel. Artist Jeff Whyman from Seattle and John Sanders from New York volunteered to create it.
Jeff Whyman, Artist: "Give it life to commemorate those lives and those families and the metal that came out of that and made by these families and create something that encapsulates the spirit and the hope and the faith and the love and the joy."
The artists say they are supporting the Simple Earth Foundation because it will give art opportunities to the community.
John Sandersm Artist: "When a foundation for the art starts, that's one of the most important cultural things that can happen in a small city or town like this."
Terrt Rosenberg, Artist: "I think it's very important to nurture that, and we're here to try and nurture that because it looks like they are really headed in a great direction and we want to be supportive of that."
Focusing on art education for children and providing a gallery for local artists to show their work, The Simple Earth Foundation is a non-profit organization, hoping for the spirit of art to catch on.
Cristina Peterson, Simple Earth Foundation: "These artists are internationally known and for them to come here to our community and exhibit and volunteer their time and help build this sculpture, it's been incredible."
Artist Jeff Whyman also donated $100,000 worth of work to the foundation. Proceeds from sales will be used for art scholarships, helping those who may not be able to afford art courses otherwise
It's just one example of how art and artists are changing lives.
