Who would believe a hanger, a completely inanimate object used for domestic purposes, would be full of life and aesthetic beauty? Over the years, contemporary art has visited BYU, but never has there been a consistent collection of art to explore. Finally, in the fall of 2007, BYU hired a full-time contemporary arts curator, Jeff Lambson, a BYU graduate with a master’s degree in art history.

Before BYU, Lambson worked at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden museum where he was introduced to Dan Steinhilber, a contemporary artist whose work is currently on display in the Museum of Art. When Steinhilber’s exhibit ends, Hirshhorn plans to leave the hanger sculpture to become a part their permanent collection because of how many people loved that piece of art.

“He uses these seemingly unexceptional items to examine the wonder that can be found all around us,” Lambson said of Steinhilber in a news release.

A visitor to the MOA might be drawn to Steinhilber’s exhibit by the hanger sculpture suspended from the ceiling in the museum’s entrance. Immediately the focus is drawn to a formation of hangers that drape from the neck of one another.

Lori Kartchner, 21, BYU student in the Department of Humanities, gets to view the hanger sculpture often from the desk she works at.

“I was struck by how it looks like birds, or feathers, or a double helix … how clever it was, how simple, but that it makes such a beautiful shape,” Kartchner said.

Christopher Wilson, the marketing and public relations manager for the MOA, is intrigued by Steinhilber’s approach to creating natural phenomena from disposable goods.

“Steinhilber hasn’t broken or changed the hangers, but used the inherent qualities of the hanger to produce beauty. It draws our attention to the beauty of hangers. Because they can be beautiful,” Wilson said.

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Copyright Brigham Young University 5 May 2009