Fine Arts Gallery - Art Department Founders Exhibit

On Friday, February 2, 2007 the CSF Fine Arts Gallery debuts its new show of work by the founders of College of Santa Fe's Art Department. An integral part of the Santa Fe art community, College of Santa Fe art faculty and students have contributed a vital energy and presence since the department's founding in 1976. The participating members of this exhibition were responsible for establishing that presence and continue to maintain its strength and importance today.

Curated by Professor Ron Picco, the Founders Exhibit brings together the original founders of the Art Department as well as some current faculty.

Artists include Professor Ron Picco, Winona Garmhausen, Assistant Professor Linda Swanson, Professor Rick Fisher, Assistant Professor Susan York, Professor Robert Sorrell, Professor Gerry Snyder, Assistant Professor and Interim Director of the Marion Center Nancy Sutor, Associate Professor and Department Chair Kim Russo, Professor David Scheinbaum, David Barbero, Ron Pokrasso, Professor Emeritus Dick Cook, Willa Shalit, Marie Askan, Meridel Rubenstein, Robert Ewing, Gail Rieke and Doug Coffin.

History of the CSF Art Department

2006-2007 marks the 30-year anniversary of the founding of CSF's Art Department. Created under the auspices of the Humanities Department, the Art Department was established under the directorship of Ms. Winona Garmhausen and Professor Ron Picco in 1976 as a Bachelor of Arts program with course offerings in drawing, painting, sculpture, 2-D and 3-D design, photography and art history.

Ms. Garmhausen, Professor Picco and Rudy Apodaca were appointed to establish the drawing and painting program. Adjunct faculty member Maridel Rubenstein was appointed to establish the photography program, while Tesmar Mitchell and Marie Askan, also adjunct faculty, were appointed to establish the sculpture program. Degrees were conferred on the Art Department's first four students in the spring of 1977. Professor Picco assumed the directorship in 1980.

In 1986, Brother Don Mouton, then president of the college, appointed Dick Cook--at the time the director of the state of New Mexico's Artist-in-Residence Program--as the first chair of the Art Department. During this time, three barrack buildings were remodeled as art studios and art history classrooms. Under the 14-year directorship of Professor Cook, an art history major was added to the department and bachelor of fine arts degrees were offered in the areas of painting, photography, sculpture, printmaking and mixed-media. Under his leadership, the department oversaw the construction of the Visual Arts Center in 1998.

Designed by award-winning Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta, the state-of-the-art facility includes the Marion Center for Photographic Arts, Thaw Art History Center, Tipton Lecture Hall and Tishman 2-D studios. Professor Cook appointed Rick Fisher as director of the sculpture program, David Scheinbaum as director of the photography program, Ron Pokrasso as director of the printmaking program and Khristaan Villela as director of the art history program. He also appointed well-known sculptor Willa Shalit as the first artist-in-residence. Robert Ewing, former director of the Fine Arts Museum, and Gail Rieke were the first visiting artists to teach figure drawing and mixed-media. These and other artists/teachers who have played an important role in establishing or directing the Art Department will participate in the Founders Exhibit.

The Fine Arts Gallery is located in the Southwest Annex next to Fogelson Library at the College of Santa Fe.

CSF Art Department Founders Exhibit
February 2, 2007 -- March 2, 2007
Opening Reception: Friday, February 2, 5-8 p.m.

CSF Fine Arts Gallery
1600 St Michael's Drive
Santa Fe, NM 87505
(505) 473-6508
www.csf.edu/gallery

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