from www.ArtistsofUtah.org review by Tony Watson:
“Abajian’s own personal journey serves as a foil to her exploration of Peacock’s life. At times, Peacock’s life becomes a frosty paned mirror of Abajian’s. At other times, Peacock’s life comes into a more traditional focus as Abajian pieces together the artist’s biography. The book shifts time and place repeatedly throughout chapters, shifting between interviews with the artist, the recreation of the artist’s life and career, the author’s own continuing struggle, and the vivid glimpses of Peacock painting in a field or rustling through old papers. Abajian does so with a mature, controlled style so that the book flows as it reveals two or more narratives at the same time.”

The University of Utah Press has just published “First Sight of the Desert: Discovering the Art of Ella Peacock” by Bay Area author Kathryn Abajian. The book — which combines memoir and biography — focuses on the life and art of Peacock, a relatively unknown 20th century Utah painter.

Abajian agreed to answer a few questions about the book (which can be ordered from University of Utah Press). Also note that Abajian will be involved in a series of readings and events related to the book — including the opening of an exhibit of Peacock’s work later this year at the Museum of Utah Art and History.
To read more, follow this link:
http://motleyvision.blogspot.com/2005/03/art-kathryn-abajian-on-painter-ella.html

Publication Date: March 22, 2005
Paper $21.95, ISBN 0-87480-799-9
152 pp., 7 x 9, 10 color illustrations, 1 photograph
University of Utah Press

Market for First Sight of the Desert~~
•Women will trace the journey toward independence and autonomy through the lives of two women who share an artistic sensibility in this blend of memoir and biography.
•Art lovers will discover the sense of place that gives meaningful context to portraits, woodblock prints and plein air landscape painting in a narrative linked to the themes of ten color illustrations.
•Western History scholars will capture the vibrancy in a pioneer-era desert community and the power in enduring western land.
•Artists will connect to the women’s drives to find time and space to create and will recognizethe impulse of the art ethic.
•Mormons will see their culture from the perspective of two women who struggle to meet its expectations.
•Environmentalists will connect to the women’s need for their own sense of place.
•Enthusiasts of the Arts and Crafts Movement will discover a story of life lived by the ideals of simplicity and purpose.

Order online from www.uofupress.com
Contact publicity at the University of Utah Press at (801) 585-9786,
(by fax (801) 581-3365), or by e-mail at mritchie@upress.utah.edu

“Through the framework of her own personal journey, the author makes Ella Peacock’s life and art come alive. This important book captures beautifully the soul of Spring City and the essence of a unique artist who lived and painted there. It’s not difficult to imagine the author and the artist sitting in the old theater chairs on Ella’s front porch, listening to the breeze stir.”

— Ruth Lubbers, Executive Director, Art Access Gallery, Salt Lake City

“This is a major contribution to Utah art history of this period…a much needed and very informative publication.”

— Vern Swanson, Director of the Springville Museum of Art

“Kathryn Abajian has created what Wallace Stegner said made good writing. First Sight of the Desert shows time, place, presence of the artist, and the author’s discovery of both the subject and herself. By including her own memoir of her search, Abajian has lifted the art history of the book to a higher level. The narrative surprises the reader who can participate in a similar adventure. The dialogue Abajian creates between the artist, writer and reader makes this an outstanding addition to contemporary western literature.”

— David Ericson of David Ericson Gallery, Salt Lake City

“This is a thoughtful, sensitive and very honest double portrait of a painter and the writer who attempts to capture her lonely artistry in words, only to discover that both their stories are inextricably mirrored. It successfully combines biography, art history, the literature of place, and the personal essay.”

- Phillip Lopate, author of eleven books, including Totally Tenderly Tragically and Waterfront: A Journey around Manhattan. He has also edited several anthologies including The Art of the Personal Essay.