PTC's Loge Gallery to Display Works by Local Artists

Pioneer Theatre Company's Loge Gallery presents an exhibit of paintings by local artists Jake, Songer, Steve Songer and Jerry Read Hancock. The collection will be on display during PTC's production of It Happened One Christmas, December 4 through December 19, 2015.

The exhibit can be experienced on the mezzanine level of the Roy W. and Elizabeth E. Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre. The gallery is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday for the general public and before and after performances for ticket holders.

Jake Songer was born and raised in the pastoral eastern mountains of Northern Utah, Jake began sketching from the time he could hold a pencil. Since then, Jake has traveled the world and worked as a fisherman in Alaska, a cler­gyman in England, a carpenter in Costa Rica, and many things in between. Through it all he never stopped filling sketchbooks with various drawings, ideas, and creations. Jake truly enjoys the uniqueness of everyone he meets and this translates into his ability to capture life in his figurative work. Also, his landscapes show a strong love for the outdoors. Jake's presence in the art world has been well received both at home and internationally. Jake and his family recently spent a year living in the mountains of Costa Rica. There he studied with other artists and his work was ac­quired by travelers from around the world. Jake now lives back in Huntsville and works out of his studio in historic downtown Ogden.

Artist Steve Songer resides in Huntsville, Utah, where he and his wife, Pat, raised their six children. The area surrounding his home in this mountain valley has inspired many of his paintings through the years. Steve graduated from Weber State University in 1971 with a B.S. Degree in Commercial Art and again in 1973 with a B.S. Degree in Art Education. Returning to school in 1983, he received his M.F.A. in Painting from Utah State University. In 1989, Steve had the opportunity to study at the Royal Academy of Art in London. Steve is a very accomplished painter. In the past twenty-five years, he has been featured in many invitational art exhibitions, receiving numerous awards such as: 1st Place in the Eccles Statewide Competition, 1st place in the St. George Art Festival and Award of Merit from Utah Watercolor Society. More recently he won the purchase award at both the Springville Salon and the Dixie Invitational, and had a painting selected for the permanent collection of the Utah State Division of Fine Arts. With his unique art ability, Steve has had the opportunity to be involved in a variety of projects from illustrating the cover for the Will Roger's Cookbook to designing the Model Railroad Museum at the Ogden Union Station. The project that is 'closest to his heart', however, is being the illustrator and co-au­thor of the well-known Santa Claus Book. In 1999 Steve received national attention as one of Southwest Art magazine's "Artists to Watch". In their Fall 2006 issue, Art of the West magazine featured an article on Steve and what inspired some of his Valley paintings such as "Clouds Over Middlefork" and "Liberty Gold".

Jerry Read Hancock was born in Ogden, Utah in 1938. He was raised on a dairy farm where he worked with his father and twin brother throughout his youth. Upon high school graduation, he received a Bachelor of Science degree from Weber State University with a degree in Art Education and History. After graduating from college, he was employed by the Weber School District as an art teacher. Jerry taught art for about 16 years and had the honor of being selected "Utah Teacher of the Year". In 1973, continuing as an educator, he earned a Master of Education degree in Guidance and Counseling from Brigham Young Univer­sity. He continued working for the district as a guidance counselor. He retired in 1996 after 32 years in public education.

Jerry is known by the wide-variety of subjects he paints. He works to be historical and anatomically accurate. He can be easily recognized for his up-close, personal, and colorful style of painting.