Constructed of sandstone, brick, and lumber, the grand Summit Stake Tabernacle stood from 1879 until its demolition in 1971. Hazel E. Olsen’s “Summit Stake Tabernacle” precisely records the distinguishing features of the Tabernacle, such as the 117-foot-tall central tower, pointed-arch windows with stained glass from Belgium, and tall pinnacle topped spires. In Hazel’s oil on canvas, the Tabernacle stands as the central and solitary structure on a crisp winter day. The composition is symmetrical and balanced with the central tower at the center of the picture plane. The sense of stability is reinforced by her honest and deliberate brushstrokes and choice of a straightforward color palette.
Hazel E. Olson was born in South Dakota. Her interest in art began in grade school and continued into college. When forced by rheumatoid arthritis to give up her career as a book keeper, she was inspired to begin painting historic buildings as a means of recording and preserving them. In addition to the Tabernacles of Utah and Mormon Temples around the world, Hazel painted historic homes, train depots, and the missions of California. This
prolific artist also painted still lifes, florals, birds, and animals. She has paintings in permanent collections across the country, and has had over seventy five one-woman shows throughout Southern California. In 2003, the Redlands Historical Museum received over one hundred original paintings by the late Hazel E. Olson.
