SMC galleries boast renovations
By NELLIE WILLIAMS
News Writer
On Friday the newly renovated Moreau Galleries, which include the Hammes Gallery, the Little Theater Gallery and the Sister Marie Rosaire Extension, were officially recognized. The opening featured Cecilia Ann Kelly's "Works on Paper," as well as exhibits done by Saint Mary's art department faculty.
"It's beautiful," said Johnson Bowles, director of Moreau Galleries. "It makes showing and exhibiting much easier."
Beginning more than a year ago, the planning and renovations were completed last summer.
One of the most significant changes made was to the ceiling that once dropped low in the Hammes Gallery, which was taken out and raised in order to show larger artwork. The windows and grates along the wall were also removed, and the walls were resurfaced with drywall. Climate control systems were installed in order to enable the College to borrow and show works more susceptible to climate change. The Gallery was also retiled and additional tract lighting was added.
"[This] sends a good message to the students about [what] we believe in our mission of college: to foster aesthetic appreciation and a message that this is professional space and we value the art and their work," Bowles said.
Dorothy and Romy Hammes provided the original Hammes Gallery. Jerry and Dorene Hammes made the renovations in the galleries possible, and have supported nearly 80 causes at the College. Hammes is also a member of the Board of Trustees and was on the former Board of Regents.
"I think [the renovations] came out terrific. It is an example of how well this college spends its funds. They spend it wisely," said Jerry Hammes.
College president Marilou Eldred said the Hammes' relationship with the College is unique because no members of the Hammes family have attended the College.
"Without the Hammes support we never could have done this," Eldred said.
The opening focused on "Saint Mary's faculty and on the Hammes family long standing and significance with Saint Mary's College," said Eldred.
Art professors Douglas Tyler, Billy Ray Sandusky, Sajit Sethi, Johnson Bowles, and Susan Clements exhibited their works. Each professor used different techniques and styles in the pieces.
"`Weaving a Woman's Life' is an autobiographical, mixed media series investigating the rituals and roles associated with being a middle class female in the United States during the latter half of the 20th century," Bowle's wrote in her artist's statement.
Sethi's large wheel of blue shoes and clay handprints attracted much curiosity.
"Lately I have been coming to terms with a sense of cultural memory and I find this strongly reflecting in my work," he wrote in his statement.
Sister Cecilia Kelly showed 20 "Works on Paper." Kelly is a 1951 graduate of Saint Mary's College and professor of art emerita. She worked on her pieces for more than two years.
"For the past several years, the attributes of paper have been for me the inspiration and sustained interest for creative expression," she said in her artist's statement. "Oriental papers, in particular because of their beauty, variety and quality captivated my imagination and challenged me to pursue the possibilities of using paper, primarily Japanese and Thai papers, as a dominant graphic medium."
The exhibitions will be shown on campus through Feb. 18.
All News Stories for Monday, January 24, 2000
