Director's Welcome
Welcome back to the School of Art at Texas Tech University! The School of Art experienced another abundantly successful and eventful year in 2010-2011, from expanding our facilities to funding endowed scholarships. Within the past four years, the School of Art facilities have continued to expand and our Medici Circle supporters of the arts have raised our endowments to unprecedented levels. It is a truly exciting time to be a part of this growing culture of the South Plains.
Under the direction of TTU-Facilities Planning and Construction, the School of Art has seen the completion of the 3-D Annex building. Our sculpture program’s move concluded this transition for our 3-D art area. The state of the art facilities included a $3.8 million addition to the previously existing structure along with additions that have greatly improved and revolutionized the health and safety operations of this program.
Our arts supporters’ Medici Circle was not to be outdone in support of the School of Art. Over the past four years, their successful 5X7 auctions have raised endowment contributions to the figure of $157,000. In addition to providing generous support that has enriched the development of scholarships for our undergraduate and graduate students, the Medici Circle has become a formidable agent for creating valuable relationships between the School of Art and the Arts Community. Through these growing relationships, the Medici Circle has been able to match funds for the following recent endowments: the Rex and Bonnie Aycock Endowment in Art History, the Terry Morrow Art Endowment, and the newly installed Grey Lewis Memorial Art Scholarship Endowment. In a separate act of generosity, concert pianist Steven Glaser established the Nancy Naumann Memorial Art Scholarship Endowment, which has been generously augmented by family and friends of the studio art alumna.
Our Open House with High School Portfolio review this past spring was a huge success with over 100 participants. Visitors traveled from across New Mexico and Texas to participate in workshops, observe demonstrations, and tour facilities at both the main art building and the 3-D Annex. Fourteen portfolios were reviewed, resulting in four undergraduate scholarship awards. Next spring’s Annual Open house will also be kicking off some interesting demonstrations and workshops.
The coming 2011-2012 academic year promises to be a memorable compendium of milestones and trailblazing activities. The Landmark Arts Gallery continues a legacy of excellence in exhibitions and speakers with the Annual Art Faculty Exhibition while the MFA Candidate Group Exhibition takes place in the Studio Gallery. These exhibits will lead into the Annual Day of the Dead Student Show. A little food for thought is also on the menu at the Landmark Arts Gallery with Up Against the Wall: Posters of Social Protest in late fall and Beyond Printmaking III-2012 National Exhibition during the spring semester.
Don’t forget to check www.landmarkarts.org to mark your calendars with our excellent upcoming programs. We have a lecture series scheduled with visiting art historians John Rico and Susan Platt and artists Connie Lowe and Judy Rushin. The Annual Jewelry Design and Metalsmithing Symposium will be held in the fall and the ceramics area will be hosting the Texas Woodfire Exchange in the spring.
Once again, let me welcome you to the School of Art at Texas Tech University as we look forward to an exciting coming year!
Tina Fuentes, Professor
Director
June 2011