Noted sculptor and artist Florence P. Hansen was presented the Utah-California Women 1993 Heritage Award Nov. 6.
Sister Hansen, a member of the Park Ward, Sandy Utah Central Stake, is perhaps best known in the Church for two statues she created for the Relief Society Monument to Women garden at the Church's visitors center in Nauvoo, Ill. For that project, Sister Hansen sculpted heroic-size figures of Joseph and Emma Smith at the founding of the Relief Society organization, and a statue that shows a woman giving a violin lesson to a young girl. (The other 11 works in the Nauvoo garden were sculpted by Dennis V. Smith.)Numerous of her other creations, reproduced in fine porcelain, reflect gospel and family ideals.
Sister Hansen became interested in sculpting at West High School in Salt Lake City, and then studied at the University of Michigan and later under sculptor Avard Fairbanks.
She is a member of the National Sculpture Society, has been on the faculty at BYU Education Week, has addressed women's conferences, and has been featured in "Contemporary American Women Sculptors."
Sister Hansen was presented the Heritage Award by the California-Utah Women for her "outstanding contributions to the community and the arts." Sister Hansen is married to Charles W. Hansen and they have one son.
The Utah-California Women organization was founded in California 50 years ago as women from Utah met to renew associations and promote their Utah heritage. As many of the women returned to Utah, the organization was maintained. It assists in philanthropic endeavors.
