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No Comments [ Add Comment ]Museum says goodbye ... the art world says hello
By BECKY WRIGHTDirector retiring to 'see how far I can go with my artwork'
When Larry Douglass took the reins of the Brigham City Museum-Gallery, he thought he'd stay for about 10 years. He wound up staying for more than a quarter of a century.
"Time gets away from you when you're so involved with projects," he said.
Those projects have focused on preserving Brigham City's history, and curating displays of work by artists from Box Elder to Europe.
Now he is becoming part of the museum-gallery's history. He plans to retire May 30, to focus on creating and exhibiting his own art.
"I may not owe it to society," he said, joking that the world has enough bad art, "but I owe it to myself. I just want to see how far I can go with my artwork."
Dan Burke, director of the Utah Office of Museum Services, said he's glad Douglass is making time to devote to his art.
"He's a fine artist. I actually met Larry years ago, when I was with the Utah Arts Council and he was submitting artwork for exhibits," he said. "I admired his work then."
And he admires his work now.
"I hate to see him retire, because not only has he developed a wonderful museum -- everything is done to such a high professional level -- but he's also been a resource to all museums in Utah. He's very willing to share his expertise and knowledge with other museums," Burke said. "Obviously, I have great respect for what he's accomplished, and we're going to miss him."
Douglass is also retiring from the advisory board of the Utah Office of Museum Services, a position appointed by the governor. Not bad for a guy who started his museum work as an artist looking for a steady income.
After teaching school for a year in Idaho, Boise native Douglass moved to Utah to earn an advanced degree in art. Master's degree in hand, he found a job in Brigham City.
"I worked at the Intermountain Indian School, filling in for an art teacher who was getting married and left in the middle of the year," Douglass said
He enjoyed working with the students, but the school was closing so Douglass applied when the director's job opened up at the Brigham City Museum-Gallery. He was selected, and sent to the city council for approval.
"I guess I was kind of excited," he said. "The council started laughing, and I thought that was pretty cool."
Directing a combination history museum and art gallery isn't easy.
"It's not likely that you're going to find anybody who has both strengths, so you want to get somebody with a high IQ," Douglass said. "I was a hard worker, so I learned it even with my average intelligence."
Already well-versed in art, he started strengthening his history "muscles" right away.
"When I interviewed for this job, I went to the Utah State University library and read everything I could on Brigham City. I was just taken back by the pioneer story here," he said, explaining that the city was organized by order of Brigham Young as a self-sustaining cooperative community. "I saw how important that story was."
Douglass designed several exhibits to educate visitors about the city's history, showcasing artifacts from the museum's collection and that of the local Daughters of Utah Pioneers.
"I'm impressed with how careful he is with items," said Mary Alice Hobbs, who has worked with Douglass at the museum for about 11 years. "He insists on using white gloves."
But there are things in the museum that can be touched -- by anyone. "The Homestead" is a hands-on display, designed by Douglass, where families can experience pioneer activities. Children weigh bags of grain, work a butter churn and even try to push a plow. In "Eliza's Attic," they find out about "Blind Man Jones," one of Brigham City's early mail carriers.
"Larry and another worker thought it was a good idea to have a big rat there," said Hobbs. "When we have big groups go through, we can always hear a few screams."
Douglass has a great sense of humor, friends and co-workers say, but they are quick to add that he's very serious about his work.
Douglass' efforts to preserve the city's history moved beyond the museum walls, to researching prominent local buildings and getting them on the National Register of Historic Places.
"I did it with the museum staff, most with Kathy Bradford -- I'd do the architectural history, and she'd do the social history of the building," he said.
He also wrote grants and found volunteers to help restore buildings in danger of falling apart.
"I think what I'm most proud of is that I've actually been instrumental in saving a couple of buildings from demolition, behind the scenes," Douglass said. The Peter Forsgren home, the Academy Building and Merrell's Planing Mill are a few of the historic buildings he helped save.
Expanding exhibits
Douglass is also proud of his success in moving the museum from hosting only regional art exhibits to national touring exhibits.
The gallery has hosted the expected displays of paintings, but Douglass says he's tried to give equal time to photography, crafts, ceramics and other art forms.
"He knew the best artists, and wanted patrons to have the opportunity to see the best," said Hobbs.
Hands-on approach
Douglass has always taken a hands-on approach to his work, sometimes answering patrons' questions while covered in sawdust or paint.
"If he wants to have things built, he has to do it, because we don't have the money to hire it out," Hobbs said.
Hobbs says Douglass is a perfectionist -- in a good way.
"He gets an idea and he wants to see it through to fruition, and he wants to have it done really well," she said.
And Douglass' comment about having average intelligence? Hobbs doesn't agree.
"Besides being very knowledgeable about art, he has learned so much about historic preservation, and he retains that. When he reads something, he doesn't forget it. He's like a walking dictionary," she said.
More important, he doesn't get so caught up in projects that he forgets people.
"There have been very few days that he's left work and hasn't said, 'I appreciate your work today,' " said Hobbs, adding. "He remains calm no matter what the circumstances are."
Sharing knowledge
It's not just Brigham City Museum-Gallery employees who are going to miss working with Douglass.
"He has a good understanding of the needs of museums, particularly smaller museums," said Burke. "He's always been a strong advocate in trying to provide resources to smaller museums."
Susan and Dave Neidert, who run the Fine Arts Center down the street from the Brigham City Museum-Gallery, agree. Douglass has encouraged and advised them, helping set up their puppet museum and even entertaining at one of their community events.
"He got up there and danced for us -- it was a hoot-and-a-half," said Susan Neidert. "He doesn't impress you as a dance person, but he just took it away."
Douglass has a special way of looking at things, Dave Neidert says.
"He always looks at problems as a challenge to be solved, and always comes up with ... innovative ideas on how to get around an issue," he said. "There's a solution to every problem, if you talk to Larry. He's very upbeat, and always willing to help."
Semi-retirement
Douglass says he's retiring at age 57, while he's young enough to enjoy it, but he plans to be busier than ever with personal projects. He'll be drawing and sketching on location, capturing some of his favorite local scenes, and creating computer art.
"Doing artwork is very strenuous and demanding," he said.
But coming full circle, he wants to do a little something to add to the family income. He hopes to find a part-time job in a field that's become close to his heart -- preserving history.
"I'm hoping to get an internship as an archivist for a special collection," he said. "So I'm sort of branching off from this career."
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