2008 Woodie Awards
Art Displayed on UCM's Campus
Dayna Baker/for the Muleskinner
Issue date: 10/12/06 Section: Homecoming 2006
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Ask some people about the art on campus, and more than a few will ask, "What art? Do you mean the sculptures?"
Do students, faculty, staff and alumni really only consider the sculptures to be the only campus art?
According to Dictionary.com, art is "the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance." That's it? Why is there not a very specific definition of art? According to that definition almost anything can be art.
Zac Hallows, biology major, said art is a "physical representation of how people feel and interact, how they show their feelings about what they are making."
Nathaniel Donley, psychology major, said, "Art is not random. It is an expression of something meaningful to the artist, it takes something from their soul; the more feeling that is conveyed, the more artful it is."
How is art chosen to be displayed on Central's campus? When Ed Elliott was president of the University, he asked Jerry Miller, who was the chair of the art department, to find art for the campus. A statewide competition was conducted and a group of advisors was chosen to select sculptures for campus.
Two of the sculptures were donated by Evelyn Louise Sims. "Generations" was donated in 1990, and depicts four generations of women in various stages of life. "The Guardian" was donated in 1994 in remembrance of her husband, Guy Allen Sims, and all other servicemen and women.
Other sculptures were gifts from graduating classes, such as the stone pillars at the north entrance to campus which were a gift from the class of 1915. The class of 1970 donated metal plates with the Bill of Rights engraved in them. They are affixed to the base of the flagpole at the center of the quad.
Most of the other art on campus, such as paintings and pictures which are displayed in offices, are part of a collection belonging to the University.
Currently, there is no formal process for selecting art, and none has been purchased or selected since Elliott's retirement.
Michael Crane, director and curator of the Art Gallery, is also in charge of the university's permanent art collection and sculptures.
Crane will be meeting with Judith Siminoe, general counsel for the University, to establish a process to select art.
One of the most diverse places for art on campus is the Art Gallery. Many shows are on display throughout the year. The Art Faculty Show 2006 will be on display in the main gallery until Nov. 2. Megan Mathews, an art education major, will also have a show in gallery 115 of the Art Center. The gallery will be open Saturday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
There are many types of shows in the Art Gallery throughout the year. The senior shows for commercial art, interior design, studio art and art education majors start Nov. 6 and continue until Dec. 7. There will be a display from the Hallmark Cards Collection, as well as a collection of historic African art coming to the Art Gallery next semester.
Do students, faculty, staff and alumni really only consider the sculptures to be the only campus art?
According to Dictionary.com, art is "the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance." That's it? Why is there not a very specific definition of art? According to that definition almost anything can be art.
Zac Hallows, biology major, said art is a "physical representation of how people feel and interact, how they show their feelings about what they are making."
Nathaniel Donley, psychology major, said, "Art is not random. It is an expression of something meaningful to the artist, it takes something from their soul; the more feeling that is conveyed, the more artful it is."
How is art chosen to be displayed on Central's campus? When Ed Elliott was president of the University, he asked Jerry Miller, who was the chair of the art department, to find art for the campus. A statewide competition was conducted and a group of advisors was chosen to select sculptures for campus.
Two of the sculptures were donated by Evelyn Louise Sims. "Generations" was donated in 1990, and depicts four generations of women in various stages of life. "The Guardian" was donated in 1994 in remembrance of her husband, Guy Allen Sims, and all other servicemen and women.
Other sculptures were gifts from graduating classes, such as the stone pillars at the north entrance to campus which were a gift from the class of 1915. The class of 1970 donated metal plates with the Bill of Rights engraved in them. They are affixed to the base of the flagpole at the center of the quad.
Most of the other art on campus, such as paintings and pictures which are displayed in offices, are part of a collection belonging to the University.
Currently, there is no formal process for selecting art, and none has been purchased or selected since Elliott's retirement.
Michael Crane, director and curator of the Art Gallery, is also in charge of the university's permanent art collection and sculptures.
Crane will be meeting with Judith Siminoe, general counsel for the University, to establish a process to select art.
One of the most diverse places for art on campus is the Art Gallery. Many shows are on display throughout the year. The Art Faculty Show 2006 will be on display in the main gallery until Nov. 2. Megan Mathews, an art education major, will also have a show in gallery 115 of the Art Center. The gallery will be open Saturday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
There are many types of shows in the Art Gallery throughout the year. The senior shows for commercial art, interior design, studio art and art education majors start Nov. 6 and continue until Dec. 7. There will be a display from the Hallmark Cards Collection, as well as a collection of historic African art coming to the Art Gallery next semester.
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