Provo City Center Temple - Painting

The Provo City Center Temple is one of a series of detailed pencil drawings and paintings created by the artist Chad S. Hawkins. In 1989, at the age of seventeen, Chad started this unique temple series, becoming the original LDS artist to involve hidden spiritual images in his artwork. Before drawing each temple, Chad researches its history, construction, and beautiful surroundings. He then returns to his studio to draw the temple by referring to his notes, sketches, and photographs.

                “As with all of my temple works of art,” comments the artist, “I include in addition to the temple, appropriate hidden spiritual images within each drawing. With the Provo City Center Temple, my goal was to include an image that would pay tribute to the temple site’s historic past.” Among the distant buildings is included an image of the city’s first Tabernacle or “Old Meeting House.” This building was completed in 1861, plastered in 1866-1867, and thereafter dedicated in 1867. The building stood facing Center Street until it was torn down in 1918. This historic building was located on the same block as today’s Provo City Center Temple.