Dixie State College to Host Art Talk Featuring Local Artist Heather Schwartz

Dixie State College of Utah’s Sears Art Museum Gallery will host a special “Art Talk” forum, featuring artist and St. George native Heather May Schwartz, on Thursday, July 30, at 6:30 p.m., in the Gallery inside the Dolores Dore’ Eccles Fine Arts Center. Admission is free and open to the public.

Schwartz, who is a Dixie College alumnus, will discuss her exhibit entitled “Life at Guantanamo Bay,” which is currently on display in the lobby of the Eccles Fine Arts Center. Schwartz and her family recently returned from Guantanamo Bay Naval Station in Cuba, where they lived for the past six years.

After residing at GTMO for a short time, Schwartz found her niche and became a well-known local artist in the community. She has painted many commissioned-works and created a substantial amount of local-themed paintings to sell to the residents of the Naval Base as mementos. After a couple of years of residing at GTMO, Heather began teaching Elementary Art for the Department of Defense Education Activity at W.T. Sampson Elementary School. She also was the department head for the Gifted Education Program.

Over the years, Schwartz’s paintings have reflected much of the life, traditions, and landscape of Guantanamo Bay Naval Base and its residents. The people of GTMO are as unique as the scenery. The atmosphere is leisurely and reminiscent of small town life. Everyone knows everyone and watch out for each other.

The “Life at Guantanamo Bay” exhibit will be on display Monday-through-Thursday through Sept. 10, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information the forum or the exhibit, please contact Kathy Cieslewicz, curator of the DSC Sears Art Museum Gallery, at 435-652-7909.