Talking Stick - November/December 2008 - (Page 38)

Finding inspiration in Unexpected places art is both creation and recreation. oF the two ideas, i think art as recreation or as sheer play oF the hUman spirit is more important. – lin yUtang bringing art into the residence halls It is a long held belief in residence life that providing students with both state-of-the-art amenities and exceptional programs can help recruit and retain students. One way to enrich their residence hall experience and to promote faculty interaction – both of which enrich a student’s overall university experience – is to form partnerships with academic departments to create living and learning communities, theme halls, and other academic niches. Partnerships with art departments in particular – or, in some instances, campus art galleries or museums – have many positive benefits: they support art education, connect students and faculty, beautify residential areas, enhance and inspire students’ lives, and sometimes even lead to innovative fundraising projects. Long before the diversity cube came into existence, CMU’s housing department had tried to bring art into the residence halls by recycling artwork that had been abandoned and forgotten in storage rooms. Photographs were taken of each piece and shared with residence hall directors, who were then given the opportunity to select paintings for their own halls. The art program was off and running. The next phase involved purchasing and displaying student and staff artwork staff throughout CMU’s 22 residence halls. The final step was to form a more formal partnership with the art department. In addition to seeking more student and staff art pieces, housing wanted to know if they could work directly with specific classes and if the art department was interested in helping them exhibit student art in the residence halls. Yes, yes, and yes were the responses. Sculpture professor Margaret Ware expressed her appreciation this way: “Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity for our students to engage in a professional practice while still at school. We look forward to this being the start of a positive and engaging relationship between sculpture and the art department and residence life.” The first exhibition was held in the lounge of CMU’s Troutman Hall, an area located in the Tower, which houses almost 2,200 students. At the opening reception, Al Wildey, department chair, expressed his hope that someday students will no longer ask “Why do we need art?” but will instead ask “Why isn’t there more art?” After a month, the initial exhibition was followed by others featuring an interior design student’s 3 Talking Stick

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Talking Stick - November/December 2008

Talking Stick - November/December 2008 Contents Online Now Vision Just In Your ACUHO-I Transitions Res Life Facilities Business Special Focus Calendar Finding Inspiration in Unexpected Places The Evolving Role of the Resident Advisor Conversations First Takes Reporting Out New Members Snapshot

Talking Stick - November/December 2008

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