Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
The Moon and Seven Stars
The Moon and Seven Stars
Once upon a time beneath the Moon and Seven Stars
A Swan and Seven Cignets swam upon a mirror Lake
An Elvish Woman came from the Hills and music she would make
To the Stars she played upon her Harp beside the lovely Pond
and when at last she'd played enough she left before the dawn
Daylight fades again the Swan's that swam upon the Lake
Would hear again the tales the ancient Harp could make.
by David Spalding Sharp
Monday, March 5, 2012
The Battle of Moytura
This Saint Patrick’s Day I am reminded of this story.
In days long ago, when the Tuatha de Dananan, or children of light, came to Ireland, they found the Fomori opposing them for the mastery of Ireland. They were an evil race of wraith like spirits that had in their enslavement a crude race of giants. They moved upon the central plain of Ireland, a place called Moytura. There the Fomori brought forth their King, Balor of the Evil Eye. He brought several servants that would lift the lid of his great eye and a warrior in bright shining mail would die. The battle went badly for the Tuatha de Dananan, and Nuada Silver Hand was slain, and Govanan the Smith along with many others of the Children of the Goddess. Just when things seemed at their worst, there came upon the plain a great warrior, bright like the Sun, with golden hair and a great shining Spear. Luke (Lugh) hefted up the great spear to his shoulder and flung it with all his might. As it flew through the air all living things upon the Earth held their breath as their fate was in the balance. When it struck the Eye of Balor there was a great flash of light that rose to the heights of the Heavens, and to the depths of the great Sea and the hidden places of the Earth. Ireland was free of all Evil for many hundreds of years. For after that the Fomori retreated to their island of Tori, and there they remained lashed by the waves in their ancient tower. The Children of Light ruled Ireland in peace and contentment until the coming of man to Ireland. The Celtic Cross is both the symbol of Luke the Sun God and the forces of light combined with the Cross of Christ. The Irish harvest festival is named after the Sun God, Lughnasa. I am reminded in these days of controversy and hatred that there is a great and continuing struggle between light and darkness that with courage, love and charity in one’s heart we can defeat those that worship darkness and their ideals of hatred, violence, slavery and denigration. May our world be free of evil and hatred, yet ever vigilant.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Celtic Celebration - Peery's Egyptian Theatre
Experience the authentic textures of Ireland and Scotland at Peery’s Egyptian Theater’s annual Celtic Celebration. High energy jigs and lyrical ballads weave an enchantment. Step dancers bring fire and energy to the stage. Haunting pipes and drums inspire images of lonely cliffs and brilliant green fields. Come celebrate the Irish in you.
Celtic Beat, Feet of Fire under the direction of LaRae Thackeray and the Galloway Highlanders Pipes and Drums will once again take the stage at the Egyptian. These phenomenal performers will be joined by the local Celtic group Idlewild. Dave Sharp on Irish Flute, Vocals, Storytelling, Cittern, Moutain Dulcimer, Carol Sharp on Whistle, Celtic Harp, Teresa Welch on Fiddle and Patrick Leary on Guitar.
Venue Details
The historic Peery's Egyptian Theater is a community performing arts center in downtown Ogden. It hosts live musical and theatric events and also cinema.
Peery's Egytian Theatre
2415 Washington Blvd.
Ogden, Utah
801-689-8700
http://www.peerysegyptiantheatre.com/
In past years the tickets have sold out some weeks before the event. In order to attend you may want to order soon.
Sincerely,
David S. Sharp
2012 Interfaith Musical Tribute
2012 Interfaith Musical Tribute
Many Faiths one Family
Sunday February 26th, 2012 at the Salt Lake Tabernacle on Temple Square. Earth Based Music, Jewish Music, Unitarian Choir, LDS Children's Choir, Tahi Buddist music and dance, Christian Gospel Choir, Hindu music and dance, Little Taiko Buddhist Drums, Presbyterian Bell Ringers, Native American Flute and more. Flutes from various cultures are featured elements of each of the groups.
www.interfaithroundtable.org (free tickets are available)
INTERFAITH TRIBUTE 2012 – 10 year anniversary of Interfaith
Sunday, February 26, 2012
A. Organ Prelude - Bonnie Goodliffe
B. Welcome – Carole Mikita (at podium)
C. Native American Flute (center stage mic) – Wayne Gardner – Northern Ute
D. Prayer – Lacee Harris (podium) – Northern Ute Piute
E. Elder Gary Crittenden, Area Seventy (podium)
Elder Gary Crittenden is a member of the sixth quorum of the seventy since
April 2007. Prior to that, he served as President of the Yorktown New York Stake
in Westchester County, New York and Fairfield County, Connecticut. He and his
wife, Cathy, have been married 32 years and are the parents of three married
children-two daughters and one son. They are also grandparents to six (soon to
be eight) grandchildren. They are members of the Manhattan First Ward in the
New York, New York Stake.
Sister Crittenden is a stay-at-home mom and enjoys a wide range of activities with
her children and grandchildren . She is a fine quilter, seamstress and pianist. Her
family would say that she is the heart of her family. Among her many church
Callings, she has served as a President of the Primary, Young Women's and Relief
Society.
Elder Crittenden works as the Chief Financial Officer of Citigroup, one of the
largest financial institutions in the world. Before his current position at Citigroup, he
was Chief Financial Officer of American Express, Monsanto and Sears Roebuck
and Company.
F. Governor’s Representative – Greg Bell? (podium)
F. Elaine Emmi – History of Interfaith – Interfaith Rountable Board Secretary (podium)
Elaine has been with Interfaith from the start. She is one of the driving forces that keeps Salt Lake Interfaith happening. By religious faith she is a Quaker.
TRIBUTE PROGRAM (Carole will introduce each number from podium)
1. Ogden Buddhist Taiko Group - (Buddhist) - Stan Hirai - director
The Ogden Buddhist Taiko Group is affiliated with the Buddhist Church of Ogden. The Buddhist Church of Ogden is a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temple which is a Japanese form of Buddhism founded in the 13th Century. The group is comprised of members of all ages and has been in existence since 1977. The group finds that performing is very satisfying both personally and spiritually. The sharing of the art of taiko with others is a great way of expressing both the Japanese art form of taiko but also of sharing the spiritual aspects of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. In Buddhist taiko the goal for the player is to become one with the drum just as in Buddhism the goal of each individual practicing Buddhism is to become one with Buddha or to become enlightened.
They will be performing “Ashura”, which translated means War or Warring Demons. Written by and played with the permission of Rev. Masami Kodani of the Kinnara Taiko Group. In this case the war described in this piece is not one fought on the battlefield but one that is demonstrated in our interactions with people and relationships in our everyday lives. In this piece the group plays as if in conflict with each other and then will end together as if in resolution of their conflict.
The second piece was written by the Japanese taiko group Ondekoza in tribute to the people of Hachi Jo Island, one of the islands of Japan, an island unique in its support of the performing arts. The group Ondekoza taught this piece to Denver Taiko Group one of Ogden Buddhist Taiko Group mentor groups who in turn taught it to them.
2. Idlewild - (Earth based) David Sharp
Carol Sharp - Celtic Harp/David Sharp - Celtic Flute/Teresa Lynn Welch – Violin/Pat Leary – Guitar
To honor the Earth as our Mother is a common spiritual theme passed down to us from ancient times. This includes honoring animals as well as the spirits of every grove, spring, rock formation or other feature of nature. We humans are not separate from nature, but are one aspect of it. We must do our best to stay in harmony with the whole of the natural world.
Idlewild will be performing a medley of original songs:
Clackmannen ©2012 David S. Sharp – Is an air written in the Scottish
idiom. The Sharps were a family of Quarrymen, Stone Cutters and Coal
Miners from Clackmannen from 1500 to 1848. The village was named after the megalithic standing stone next to the naval cross in the town square. Clackmannen is Gallic for “Stone of the Manu” or Sea God.
Mary Hunter Sharp ©2012 David S. Sharp – is a Strathspey written in the
Scottish dance idiom. Named after the composers immigrant ancestor that
set out for Utah in 1848.
The Firth of Forth ©2012 David S. Sharp – is a Country dance reel
written in the Scottish idiom. Named after the inlet where the village of Clackmannen is located.
As an interesting side note: David’s family quarried and freighted the red sandstone foundations for the Tabernacle from their family quarry in Red Butte canyon in the east side of the valley.
3. Karadi Karagam - (Hindu)
Presented by : Utah Tamil Sangam
Choreography: Divya School of Dance
Director: Anuradha Narayanan
Song: Pachai Malai Pavazha Malai
Kutrala Kuravanji is a grand musical play, set in the picturesque town nestled in at the foot of a mountain waterfall named Kutralam, in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Written in beautiful ornate Tamil by Melagaram Tirikooda Rasappa Kavirayar in 1715 in praise of Hindu God Shiva and his son Murugan – the Tamil God for Valor, beauty and knowledge. A dance drama, set in verse and related by the young maidens of Kutralam, is one of both religious devotion and human love and paints a poignant picture of life in south India 300 years ago. The Kuravanjis are also known as Kurathis, who are the essential characters in the musical play. Kurathis are sooth sayers, and their tribe is very talented in craftsmaking. We are going to witness today one such song from Kutrala Kuravanji where the beautiful Kuravanjis dance about the pride of her beautiful rich mountain and land, -- the land that not only keeps them happy, but teaches them arts and also keeps them healthy in mind ,body and spirit, in short One with God !
4. Unitarian Choir
The First Unitarian Church of Salt lake City acts as a bastion of liberal theology and thought along the Wasatch Front. Established in Salt Lake City in the late 19th century, its permanent home was established at 600 South and 1300 East with the building of its church there in 1927. Lead by Seven Governing Principles, Unitarianism has a strong directive to attend to social justice, mindful living and a conscientious awareness to the interconnectedness of all life and the well-being of our planet. Reflecting these ideals, members of the Chancel Choir will perform"Liberty and Justice". Composed by our Director of Music, David Owens, this piece is a rousing call to 'Sing with One United Voice with Liberty and Justice for All'.
The Chancel Choir of The First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City:
"Liberty and Justice"
Director of Music: David Owens
Assistant Choral Directors: Holly Stuart and David A. Zabriskie
5. Reading from the Kuran (Muslim) Imam Muhammed Mehtar
(Still waiting for info from the Imam)
6. Mama's Temple Church Choir - (Christian Gospel Choir) –
Under the dynamic direction of Minister of Music Rosalind E. Cazares
(Contenders for the Faith of Jesus Christ Inc)
Overseer & Founder (Mama) Dr. Rosemary Redmon Cosby (Apr 1932 –Jan 1997)
Pastors Elder Mark L. and Co-founder Rosalind E. Cazares
Assistant Pastors Elder Adrian and Rosae Jefferson
In the cold winter month of January of 1961 (Mama) Dr. Rosemary Redmon Cosby and her four young children left Indianapolis, Indiana by bus to Kansas and started out walking on the Highway to Utah in obedience to God after Mama received a call from God, To Go to Salt Lake City and seek His souls. Mama worked her way to Salt Lake preaching revivals and God answered their prayers on their journey giving Mama and her children safe rides and warming the weather up for them as they walked along the highway. After arriving in Utah, God richly blessed Mama after many hardships and years of faithfulness to God and hard work; truly a Rags to Riches story. Since Mama’s passing in January of 1997, Pastors Elder Mark & Co-founder Rosalind Cazares, Mama’s faithful daughter, keeps Mama’s beautiful legacy and continues her great work.We believe in the water baptism in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and receiving of the Gift of the Holy Ghost according to Acts 2:38 preached by Peter on the Day of Pentecost.
7. (The African group was here, but they canceled. There may be a group we will slide in here, but I will have to do that last minute if it happens.)
8. LDS Children's Choir –
We will next hear from a group of children from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints singing a medley of Primary songs. The group is calling themselves the “Mormon Tabernacle Primary Children’s Choir”, and consists of children age 7-12 from the East Millcreek, East Millcreek North, Holladay North, Canyon Rim and Monument Park Stakes. They are under the direction of Susan Kaelin with Dean Kaelin at the piano.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the official name of the religion commonly called the Mormon Church. They believe first and foremost that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and the Son of God. While their backgrounds and experiences are diverse, Mormons are united by a belief that we are all children of God. They believe God has called a prophet that is on the earth at this time to guide and help all of his children. The church believes in helping all people and is involved in humanitarian efforts throughout the world.
9. Khemera Dance Troupe - (Buddhist) - Chanda Chuon
Name: Robaim Choun Por (Cambodian Classical Blessing Dance) This dance depicts goddesses descending from heaven to offer the world a blessing of peace and prosperity. This dance is often used as a way to bless the audience at the beginning of religious events or a royal ceremony.
Names of performers to be listed in the program (directors, choreographers, etc): Performance by: Sinoeun Poeut, Sovanny May, Jenny Hor, Julie Hor, Samnang Loeung, Londa Loeung and Rannie Sin. Under the direction of Chanda Chuon.
Cambodian classical dance is a sacred art form that is passed down verbally from generation to generation. In it's original form, only the king and his honored guests were allowed to view the performances. These dances were often used as a bridge to bind this word with the celestial world of his (the king) ancestors. Robaim Choun Por is used in the beginning of many royal and religious ceremonies to ask the gods to bless the audience with peace and prosperity.
Director: Chanda Chuon
10. Sikh Blessing – JB Singh – Sikh Temple
A progressive religion well ahead of its time when it was founded over 543 years ago, The Sikh religion today has a following of over 25 million people worldwide and is ranked as the worlds 5th largest religion. Sikhism preaches a message of Devotion and remembrance of God at all times, truthful living, equality of mankind and denounces superstitions and blind rituals. Sikhism is open to all through the teachings of its 10 Gurus enshrined in the Sikh Holy Book and Living Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib.Sikh's are having main Sikh Temple, Known as GOLDEN TEMPLE, in Amritsar Punjab India, which is most visited religious places in the world and more than 50,000 peoples (Devotees ) are having Free Food (Langar) every day. Sikh Temple in Utah is open for everyone, seven days a week, having special congregation and prayers on Sundays 11 am to 1 pm, followed by free Kitchen (Langar )
11. Reformation Ringers - (Christian) - Barbara Hartman
The "Reformation Ringers" are from three Protestant Reformed Tradition churches, Wasatch Presbyterian (Salt Lake City), Hilltop Methodist (Sandy) and Community Methodist (Ogden). The Methodist and Presbyterian churches grew from the Sixteenth Century reformation with leaders John Wesley and John Calvin. Our (Their?) beliefs are of One God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, saved by grace through faith, and encouraged to follow Jesus' lead of forgiveness and reconciliation. Presbyterians and Methodists differ from many other protestant churches in our (their?) emphasis of living out the mandate of Christ in actions of social justice. We will be playing "Fantasy on Kingsfold", believed to be written by Ralph Vaughan Williams, though also believed to be an English Folk Tune. Arranged for bells by H. Dean Wagner. The Reformation Ringers are directed today by Claudette Rothwell.
12. Desert Wind - (Jewish) Alan Bachman
Members of Jewish Faith. Jewish faith in Utah is diverse with several congregations. Jews have been in Utah since the mid-1800s.
They will be performing and original composition called “OD TESHUVAH”.
Od Teshuvah means more ‘return to source’. Od Tefillah means More Prayer and Od Tsedakah means more charity and good deeds
Performers: Alan and Andalin Bachman, Rajab Harrous, Adnan Jasim
G. Final Remarks – Alan Bachman – Interfaith Chair
H. Let There Be Peace on Earth – ASL interpreter on stage
David Parker, Ed.D., (Methodist) Associate Director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Center for Community of Caring Institute at the University of Utah
1st time thru sung by Children’s choir, 2nd time with entire congregation
piano
I. Benediction – Rev. Canon W. Ivan Cendese – Exec. Director SL Interfaith Roundtable
J. Organ postlude - Bonnie Goodliffe
Monday, July 18, 2011
The Railroad Bishop and his descendents
That spring John Sharp made fast friends with Brigham Young and the success of the family depended much on his patronage. John and his brothers began quarry stone for the Tabernacle, the Tithing House and many of the brown stone buildings from the time period. Soon the Sharp brothers were teaching many of the newly arrived converts the methods of stone quarrying along with many of their neighbors from Clackmannanshire and Fife. It was during that spring that John Sharp Jr. was born.
John Sharp next became the superintendent of the Church quarry where the huge blocks of granite were cut for the Salt Lake Temple and the massive wall around Temple Square, along with other structures on the grounds. (As a geologists son I knew that version of granite was called quartz monzonite and was one of the hardest variations of that stone. I did some stone carving in art school mostly out of Alabaster and some Sandstone which is very soft in comparison. Steel chisels would just beat the edges blunt on Granite and the secret of the tooling and carving of it has been lost until the advent of diamond saws and the like.)
Bishop Sharp represented Brigham Young at the Golden Spike ceremony at Promontory, since Brigham Young was unable to attend. Sometime after-word the Union Pacific failed to pay the Mormon railroad workers for their work on the railroad. It was John Sharp, Joseph A. Young and Apostle John Taylor, whom Brigham Young sent east to do battle in the courts for the LDS Church. Sharp played a key role in the construction of the Utah Central Railroad as well in 1869-70, and became it’s superintendent in 1871, and its president in 1873. He was also named vice-president of the Utah Southern Railroad Company when that company was formed in 1870. As the purchasing agent for the this railroad, he became acquainted with some of the Union Pacific directors in New York City and eventually was named a UP (Union Pacific) director, which position he retained until he died late in December the 23rd of 1891 at his home in Salt Lake City. John Sharp became known as “The Railroad Bishop” and he did well in life having risen in status from a childhood as a miner in the coal pits of Scotland.
John Sharp’s son James Sharp became a stock holder in the Railroad company as well as Mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah from 1884 to 1886. His oil portrait can still be seen on the second floor of the City and County building. This is a quote from the Utah Herald in 1886 about James Sharp’s tenure as Mayor. “James Sharp was the Herald’s candidate for Mayor two years ago, and his record has been such that this paper is proud that it advocated his election and stood by his administration. The gentleman may retire with the perfect assurance that he enjoys the gratitude, the esteem and the confidence of the public he has served so faithfully, and with so much ability, intelligence and integrity. It is ever a pleasant thing to be able to conscientiously approve the course of a public officer when he retires, and in Mr. Sharp’s case it is doubly enjoyable.”
James Sharp had several children and it was and still is a tradition of the family to name one of the kids John. So it was that John Francis Sharp MD became the next person in our family to bear the name. He was sent to New York City to study medicine and there he met his future wife Luella Ferrin from Huntington, Utah, while both were taking singing lessons from the famous Opera singer Madame Von Klenner. They named one of their first sons Klenner or ‘Klink’ for short. Luella had been sent by the LDS church to study Opera as the lead soprano for the Salt Lake Opera Company and both sang later with the Tabernacle Choir. John Francis Sharp MD became the head surgeon at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah as well as the commanding officer of the MASH unit from Utah. Serving as the units commander for both the Poncho Villa campaign and throughout World War I. (I ran in to an elderly woman at a rest home I played music at a few years ago. She said she worked at LDS Hospital and remembered Dr. Sharp as a gentleman that always said good morning and held the elevator door open for her and anyone else in the Hospital.) The sister of John Francis Sharp was named Cecilia Sharp (my father’s aunt) she was a well know pianist. She was married to Mahonri M. Young the sculptor (1877-1957) he was also the grandson of Brigham Young. Their oldest son Mahonri Sharp Young became a well known Art critic, art historian, writer and former museum director. After the death of Cecilia Sharp, Uncle Hon married Dorothy Weir an educator and daughter of the american impressionist painter J. Alden Weir. Mahonri taught at the New York Art Academy and was a well known member of the Ashcan School, an art movement of social realism during the depression, depicting both the poverty and dignity of the working class of America. Mahonri Young influenced many artists studying in both Paris and in New York. He was a great mentor to my father Byron James Sharp and my Uncle Gil Sharp, he took them on many sketching trips through out central and southern Utah. He and Dorothy Weir would stay at the home of John Francis Sharp whenever they traveled to Utah, and my Uncle Gil later studied art and taught at the New York Art Academy with Uncle Hon. Mohonri made an interesting sketch at the family duck club of the time with my father and his dog. “Byron and Terry on a raft” It’s a sketch of my father as a teen with his dog poling a boat through the cat tail reeds along Farmington Bay of the Great Salt Lake.
My father, Dr. Byron James Sharp, flew a glider on D-Day during World War II. He later received his degrees in Geology, Paleontology and Mineralogy from the University of Utah. His art ability gave him an ability to make geologic and topographic maps, interpret aerial photographs and cross into many fields to make contributions of all kinds, despite resistance from so called area experts in the sciences. He mapped many of the energy and metal resources for ERDA (Energy Research and Development Agency) throughout the western United States. He published many papers such as the “Asteriod impact theory” and discovered many fossils one with his name such as Pseudoarctolepus sharpi a soft bodied Cambrian pre-trilobite from the Wheeler shale of Southern Utah. The research he is proudest of is his many papers and artifacts on “Early Man in the Americas”, for which he won a scientific award for “The Study of the First Americans.” He also did many water colors and sketches much like the type of subject Mahonri did, having been taught by him on their many sketching trips. My father told me stories of his older brothers and sisters, of which he was the youngest. My Aunt Marion Sharp Robinson was a famous Opera singer with a Fulbright and career in Paris. She sang for the Paris and San Francisco Opera Companies and sang in many of the most famous halls in Europe. She collected art and started the University of Utah’s Art collection with donations of her paintings, she wrote books and poetry as well as dealt in real estate for a while. Aunt Martha Sharp Toronto the next sister in line, wrote an interesting book called “A Cherry Tree behind the Iron Curtain” about her experiences as the wife of a mission President in Czechoslovakia during the Nazi and then the Communist occupation. My Uncle John Sharp was a B-26 Pilot and later a A-26 fighter bomber ace during World War II, later becoming the commanding officer of the Air Force base in Sacremento. (Now of Hill Air Force Base in Utah.)
My generation came next David Spalding Sharp, Douglas Spalding Sharp and my sister Dianne Elaine Sharp-Roberg are the children of Byron and Elaine Sharp. My children Dylan John Sharp, Daniel Brendan Sharp and step children, (Carol's kids) Kory, Chris, and Georgianna including the grandchildren (Aspen) hear these stories from us. I believe it is important to tell them that we lived and worked and have something to measure up to, remember and be inspired by those of our family that have gone before. Someday it will be their turn and you don’t stop loving someone just because their gone.
David Sharp
Glastonbury duo
John Sharp next became the superintendent of the Church quarry where the huge blocks of granite were cut for the Salt Lake Temple and the massive wall around Temple Square, along with other structures on the grounds. (As a geologists son I knew that version of granite was called quartz monzonite and was one of the hardest variations of that stone. I did some stone carving in art school mostly out of Alabaster and some Sandstone which is very soft in comparison. Steel chisels would just beat the edges blunt on Granite and the secret of the tooling and carving of it has been lost until the advent of diamond saws and the like.)
Bishop Sharp represented Brigham Young at the Golden Spike ceremony at Promontory, since Brigham Young was unable to attend. Sometime after-word the Union Pacific failed to pay the Mormon railroad workers for their work on the railroad. It was John Sharp, Joseph A. Young and Apostle John Taylor, whom Brigham Young sent east to do battle in the courts for the LDS Church. Sharp played a key role in the construction of the Utah Central Railroad as well in 1869-70, and became it’s superintendent in 1871, and its president in 1873. He was also named vice-president of the Utah Southern Railroad Company when that company was formed in 1870. As the purchasing agent for the this railroad, he became acquainted with some of the Union Pacific directors in New York City and eventually was named a UP (Union Pacific) director, which position he retained until he died late in December the 23rd of 1891 at his home in Salt Lake City. John Sharp became known as “The Railroad Bishop” and he did well in life having risen in status from a childhood as a miner in the coal pits of Scotland.
John Sharp’s son James Sharp became a stock holder in the Railroad company as well as Mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah from 1884 to 1886. His oil portrait can still be seen on the second floor of the City and County building. This is a quote from the Utah Herald in 1886 about James Sharp’s tenure as Mayor. “James Sharp was the Herald’s candidate for Mayor two years ago, and his record has been such that this paper is proud that it advocated his election and stood by his administration. The gentleman may retire with the perfect assurance that he enjoys the gratitude, the esteem and the confidence of the public he has served so faithfully, and with so much ability, intelligence and integrity. It is ever a pleasant thing to be able to conscientiously approve the course of a public officer when he retires, and in Mr. Sharp’s case it is doubly enjoyable.”
James Sharp had several children and it was and still is a tradition of the family to name one of the kids John. So it was that John Francis Sharp MD became the next person in our family to bear the name. He was sent to New York City to study medicine and there he met his future wife Luella Ferrin from Huntington, Utah, while both were taking singing lessons from the famous Opera singer Madame Von Klenner. They named one of their first sons Klenner or ‘Klink’ for short. Luella had been sent by the LDS church to study Opera as the lead soprano for the Salt Lake Opera Company and both sang later with the Tabernacle Choir. John Francis Sharp MD became the head surgeon at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah as well as the commanding officer of the MASH unit from Utah. Serving as the units commander for both the Poncho Villa campaign and throughout World War I. (I ran in to an elderly woman at a rest home I played music at a few years ago. She said she worked at LDS Hospital and remembered Dr. Sharp as a gentleman that always said good morning and held the elevator door open for her and anyone else in the Hospital.) The sister of John Francis Sharp was named Cecilia Sharp (my father’s aunt) she was a well know pianist. She was married to Mahonri M. Young the sculptor (1877-1957) he was also the grandson of Brigham Young. Their oldest son Mahonri Sharp Young became a well known Art critic, art historian, writer and former museum director. After the death of Cecilia Sharp, Uncle Hon married Dorothy Weir an educator and daughter of the american impressionist painter J. Alden Weir. Mahonri taught at the New York Art Academy and was a well known member of the Ashcan School, an art movement of social realism during the depression, depicting both the poverty and dignity of the working class of America. Mahonri Young influenced many artists studying in both Paris and in New York. He was a great mentor to my father Byron James Sharp and my Uncle Gil Sharp, he took them on many sketching trips through out central and southern Utah. He and Dorothy Weir would stay at the home of John Francis Sharp whenever they traveled to Utah, and my Uncle Gil later studied art and taught at the New York Art Academy with Uncle Hon. Mohonri made an interesting sketch at the family duck club of the time with my father and his dog. “Byron and Terry on a raft” It’s a sketch of my father as a teen with his dog poling a boat through the cat tail reeds along Farmington Bay of the Great Salt Lake.
My father, Dr. Byron James Sharp, flew a glider on D-Day during World War II. He later received his degrees in Geology, Paleontology and Mineralogy from the University of Utah. His art ability gave him an ability to make geologic and topographic maps, interpret aerial photographs and cross into many fields to make contributions of all kinds, despite resistance from so called area experts in the sciences. He mapped many of the energy and metal resources for ERDA (Energy Research and Development Agency) throughout the western United States. He published many papers such as the “Asteriod impact theory” and discovered many fossils one with his name such as Pseudoarctolepus sharpi a soft bodied Cambrian pre-trilobite from the Wheeler shale of Southern Utah. The research he is proudest of is his many papers and artifacts on “Early Man in the Americas”, for which he won a scientific award for “The Study of the First Americans.” He also did many water colors and sketches much like the type of subject Mahonri did, having been taught by him on their many sketching trips. My father told me stories of his older brothers and sisters, of which he was the youngest. My Aunt Marion Sharp Robinson was a famous Opera singer with a Fulbright and career in Paris. She sang for the Paris and San Francisco Opera Companies and sang in many of the most famous halls in Europe. She collected art and started the University of Utah’s Art collection with donations of her paintings, she wrote books and poetry as well as dealt in real estate for a while. Aunt Martha Sharp Toronto the next sister in line, wrote an interesting book called “A Cherry Tree behind the Iron Curtain” about her experiences as the wife of a mission President in Czechoslovakia during the Nazi and then the Communist occupation. My Uncle John Sharp was a B-26 Pilot and later a A-26 fighter bomber ace during World War II, later becoming the commanding officer of the Air Force base in Sacremento. (Now of Hill Air Force Base in Utah.)
My generation came next David Spalding Sharp, Douglas Spalding Sharp and my sister Dianne Elaine Sharp-Roberg are the children of Byron and Elaine Sharp. My children Dylan John Sharp, Daniel Brendan Sharp and step children, (Carol's kids) Kory, Chris, and Georgianna including the grandchildren (Aspen) hear these stories from us. I believe it is important to tell them that we lived and worked and have something to measure up to, remember and be inspired by those of our family that have gone before. Someday it will be their turn and you don’t stop loving someone just because their gone.
David Sharp
Glastonbury duo
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