Talent Takes Flight: The Air Force Week Art Exhibit Published June 3, 2009 By Catherine Cornett Hilltop Times staff HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- With its high glass ceilings, steadfast beams of light, and amazing architecture, the Salt Lake City Public Library is a perfect setting for an exhibit of Air Force artwork. Fourteen total pieces of art were shipped from the Air Force's Collection kept in Washington D.C. which showcased on June 1, there was definitely an abundance of talent. The displays ranged from paintings to pen drawings, and a variety of artists was represented. One of the artists whose works were displayed in that exhibit was Hill's very own Richard "Buz" Sawyer, a member of the 309th Maintenance Support Squadron and chairman of the Southwest Society of Air Force Artists. Sawyer retired from the Air Force about three years ago, but he hasn't given up his passion for drawing aircraft. Several of his pen drawings accompanied him while he served overseas. "I do my work on Bristol board," Sawyer explained. "That way I can just pop it into a tube and take it with me. It's wonderful." Two of his artworks, which are done using the stippling technique, depict Reserve F-16s, the first of which he sketched in Saudi Arabia in 2003. "They wouldn't let us put bombs on the planes ... so we had missiles instead," Sawyer said as he explained why the plane was shown carrying missiles. In the future, Sawyer plans on creating a piece and donating it to the Air Force Art Program in memory of his deceased friend and fellow artist, Dan Hartmann. If you'd like to visit the art exhibit and perhaps chat with Sawyer about his work and trips overseas, the exhibit will continue June 4 from 2 to 7 p.m. and June 5 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Salt Lake City Public Library. The address for the library is 210 E. 400 South, Salt Lake City.