1976 Exhibit Brochure
In 1825, Peter Skene Ogden and his Hudson Bay Brigade encountered American trappers at Mountain Green in Weber Canyon. The Americans asserted that Ogden was encroaching on American territory and that his trappers were free of their obligations to the Hudson Bay Company. When Ogden’s men were offered a price for their beaver pelts eight times greater than that offered by Hudson Bay, nearly half of Ogden’s men abandoned his brigade.
2023 Exhibit Guide
Encounter at Mountain Green depicts a confrontation between members of the British Hudson’s Bay Company under Peter Skene Ogden, Rocky Mountain Fur Company trappers led by Johnson Gardner, and a company of fifteen trappers with French Canadian Etienne Provost – after whom Provo was named – that occurred near the Weber River in Mountain Green in May of 1825.
Following the clash, Ogden’s company retreated north. Ironically, none of the trapping companies could legally claim Mountain Green which was part of Mexico.
While highlighting geopolitical implications of the clash, as well as native-trapper relations, the painting explores the rich trapping history of Utah along with some of its most prominent figures.
Artist
Gary E. Smith (1942-Living)
Gary Ernest Smith was born in Baker City, Oregon, but resided in Utah for much of his life. He expressed interest in drawing and painting from an early age, but received formal education at Eastern Oregon College and Brigham Young University, earning Bachelor and Master degrees in Fine Arts.
Smith worked as a faculty member and art gallery director and curator at Brigham Young University alongside his professional art career. He has completed 3 murals for LDS temples, and his work has been featured in many exhibitions, magazines, books, and journals. A book on his life was published in 1999 titled “Holding Ground- The Art of Gary Ernest Smith”.
Sources
- “Bicentennial Historical Art Collection.” 1976 Exhibition Brochure, Special Collections, Weber State University.
- Eyes Toward the Past. DVD.
- Karras, Marilyn. “Ogden Encountered Opposition”. The Ogden Standard Examiner, 16 Jan. 1977, Sun.
Notes
Copyright owned by Weber State University Storytelling Festival. All rights reserved. Painting shown by Kaysville – Fruit Heights Museum with permission. Painting number 10 the 2023 exhibit guide.
