Wander through the halls on campus and you’ll likely notice a change. Thanks to the work of a handful of dedicated volunteers, the long, nondescript, institutional hallways are slowly coming to life with personality and color. SCC’s new Art Collectors Club has begun gathering artwork from artists and private collections and displaying the works throughout the College’s campuses and centers. Now the College is quickly becoming a repository for artworks.
The idea for the creation of a club dedicated to securing artwork came out of a brainstorming session in 2008 to identify college improvement projects. SCC President Beverly Simone and SCC Executive Director for Institutional Advancement Becky Rump decided to measure public interest in the creation of an Art Collectors Club. So Rump contacted a handful of local art aficionados.
Still Life with Pewter Plate
Len Gridley
Fragments from Nowhere
Ulfert Wilke
“I was ecstatic that once I shared our idea, most of the people I contacted agreed to join the club,” recounts Rump.
The group met formally for the first time in December of that year and have made steady progress ever since.
The very first member to officially join the club is long-time art collector and preservationist Bob McCannon of Burlington. McCannon’s accomplishments make him uniquely qualified to lead such a club. In addition to having been in antiques and fine furniture, his efforts to help establish the Historic Preservation Commission in Burlington and the University of Iowa Foundation Len Gridley Everett scholarship for talented UI art students will serve him well in this new endeavor.
McCannon says that it didn’t take much to persuade him to join the club. “I’ve always been interested in SCC. As an institution dedicated to higher learning, it’s a very appropriate place to display artwork for students and visitors to see. If I can lend my time and experience to help make that a reality, I’m all for it.”
Other founding members include Joanne Dailey Bauer, Debbie Bessine, Mary Brockman, Barbara Grimmer, Barbara McRoberts, Robert Middaugh, Becky Rump, Mary Saxton, Beverly Simone, Angie Sodey, Lisa Walsh, retired SCC Art instructor John Weyl and current Art instructors, John Bybee, Cathleen Gordon and Suzanne Messer.
McCannon continues that SCC’s buildings and hallways are a gallery just waiting to happen. With long hallways and open spaces, there’s ample wall space to display artwork.
“I’d been to campus for different events over the years and the walls were- let’s just say they were very uninteresting,” McCannon jokes.
McCannon said that everyone benefits from being in creative environment, especially students.
“Art inspires. The colors, shape and designs inspire people to think differently, to explore, to create. Art encourages learning and development in all of us,” he notes.
Rump adds that SCC was not completely devoid of artwork over the years. “There were a few nice pieces scattered across the college but until recently we had no plan to actively develop an organized, cataloged collection.”
Birth of the American Farmer, Jams Walker Henry
The club is seeking donations of original or signed prints of paintings, drawings, photography, sculpture, pottery, and other display pieces.
“Our goal now is to feature original or signed prints by artists who are SCC alumni, who are from our region, or who have ties to Iowa. That is a must, but we can be flexible in our definition,” explains Rump. Pieces submitted for consideration must meet certain criteria before being accepted.
To date, most of the pieces have come from area residents and artists. Some pieces are on permanent loan, while others have been gifted to SCC.
Rump adds that the club is also recruiting members and soliciting donations. Annual membership dues are a modest $100 and help fund future purchases as well as arts programming. Persons who join by June 30, 2011 will be recognized as Charter Members and invited to a special event.
McCannon says that as SCC’s collection grows in size and notoriety, it will be easier for the club to solicit pieces from artists and collectors. “Working artists want to sell their pieces. Being able to have their work featured in various public collections alongside other recognized artists adds to their name recognition. It’s a win-win.”
Hillside Barn with Clouds, Gordon Kellenberger
He adds that soliciting pieces from private collectors becomes easier as prospective donors see the quality of existing works and catalog of featured artists. “It just takes a few nice pieces to get the ball rolling, and we’ve definitely got the ball rolling.”
Recent grants from the Burlington Fine Arts League and the Cullen Family Foundation through US Bank will enable the club to purchase art and acquire special cataloguing software.
The club has secured some impressive pieces from recognized artists in its short life. The current collection features pieces by Shirley Bliven, Robert Burrus, Len Gridley Everett, David Garrison, Jerry Granaman, James Walker Henry, May Hohlen, Martha Johnstone, Gordon Kellenberger, Kent Kelly, Julian Menke, Neil Peterie, Lillian Rubin, James T. Russell, Edna Schmidt, Bonny Thayer, Timothy Van Ginkel, Jane Thode Walsh, Joan Walsh, and Ulfert Wilke, and by talented student artists as well.
Nerium, Tim Van Ginkel; Late Summer Hay Bales, Barbara Grimmer
McCannon is impressed how SCC’s current art instructors are able to stand on the shoulders of instructors from the past who paved the way. “It’s great to see how active they are in the community and how they’re involved with their students’ development as artists.”
The club plans to host fundraising receptions on SCC’s campuses in 2011 that will also incorporate art tours.
Persons interested in joining the Art Collectors’ Club or donating pieces are encouraged to contact Becky Rump at 319-208-5065 or brump@scciowa.edu.
To view the rest of SCC's art collection, visit our flickr page
