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for PHILLIP HENRY BARKDULL
PHILLIP HENRY BARKDULL
1888 - 1968
an interesting modernist painter, was born in Hatton, Utah. Long forgotten and completely ignored, this talented artist is usually listed as a minor Utah painter. He started his college career at Brigham Young University (1914). Then Barkdull began a "Utah art education odyssey" of sort in the fall of 1917, first as an art teacher at Dixie Normal College in St. George; then as a teacher, Hurricane High School and again Dixie College (1920); superintendent, West Millard High School; art supervisor, Provo schools; art instructor, BYU (1929-30); and supervisor, arts and crafts, Logan schools, and art instructor, Logan High, 1930-54. AS a student again (BYU graduate [1927]), Barkdull's big moment in his painting life lasted just four years. Lee R. Randolph (q.v.) came to teach at BYU during the summer of 1927. He was followed by Birger Sandzen (q.v.) at BYU, then Utah State University. And during the summer of 1928, P.H. Barkdull studied with Sandzen in Logan. All of Barkdull's great paintings (1927-30) bear the mark of Sandzen's thick impasto, raw color, and regionalism. At his best, Barkdull may be considered a powerful member of the Logan Modernist School. Unfortunately, in 1931, he slipped while walking on a railroad track, hit his nose, and damaged his brain. He never recovered completely and ceased painting his bold and vigorous landscapes. He was subject to sever migraine headaches. His work after 1931 was mostly black-and-white line drawing of animals--very exquisite. (b. March 22; d. November 6)
Olpin, Robert S., William C. Seifrit, and Vern G. Swanson. ARTISTS OF UTAH. Salt Lake City: Gibbs Smith Publisher, 1999: 15.
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