BOUNTIFUL ó When making a choice between two beautiful things, the best decision is usually to just pick them both. The public seemed to agree with this philosophy when they recently awarded two pieces from the Handcart Days Arts and Crafts Exhibit (running through July 25 at the Bountiful/Davis Art Center) as the Peopleís Choice Award recipients for 2008. The tie was between Sandra Rastís painting ìGreater Loveî and Mike Rastís set of sculptures titled ìParents of the Prophet: Joseph Sr. & Lucy Mack Smith.î ìThey would have announced the winners earlier, but they had to go out and get a second ribbon,î said Rich Tuttle with the BDAC.##M:MORE##

ìGreater Love,î a classic work by well-known Bountiful painter Sandra Rast, imagines the rescue of the Willie and Martin handcart members along the Sweetwater River. The title of the work, Rast has said in earlier statements, comes from John 15:13 ó ìGreater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.î

Callís set of sculptures, which also won the exhibitís theme award, are actually smaller examples of the sculptures he hopes will become part of a Smith Family Monument he envisions being built in Joseph Smithís Sharon, Vermont birthplace. The proposed monument, which can be seen at www.mikecallfineart.com, would also include a relief featuring the entire Smith family reading the scriptures together at the end of the day.

jwardell@davisclipper.com