Dear Alumni, Patrons and Prospective Students,

I would like to take this opportunity to look back on the past year and summarize for you a host of accomplishments while at the same time outline future endeavors. On behalf of the entire faculty and staff, I would like to officially welcome four new distinguished faculty members: Assistant Professor of Art History; Dr. J.P. Park, Assistant Professor of Sculpture; Richard Saxton; Assistant Professor of Painting and Drawing; Francoise Dureese, and Assistant Professor of Painting and Drawing; Joo Y. Woo to our department. These are four exceptionally knowledgeable and gifted individuals who will help us move forward in an extremely dynamic and thoughtful way. We would also like to thank Professor Jerry Kunkel who has moved into retirement and Dr. Erika Doss who has moved on to a new position at University of Notre Dame for their tremendous sacrifice to the department. We will miss both dearly.

As described in the last newsletter, the department of Art and Art History is currently involved in a fund raising campaign for our new Visual Arts Complex (VAC). Our current efforts to re-engage with our alumni and friends has put us back on the map with several substantial donations earmarked for the new building, programming, scholarships, etc. Thus, we are moving forward with a “full steam ahead” attitude! Our architectural team of OZ Architecture of Denver/Boulder and Kallman, McKinnell and Wood Architects of Boston have just received the “go ahead” from the University’s Design Review Board for Design Development. We believe you will love the current design.

In addition, the bulk of the department moved from Sibell-Wolle Fine Arts to the “old” Fleming Law Building, while Ceramics and Printmaking have moved into “Marine Street” the old Housing Systems Service Center building where we will take refuge for the next two academic years. Construction on the VAC begins this fall 2007 atop the current footprint and all has been initiated through the generous support of the campus wide student body in recognition of our proud history, the excellent faculty, staff and student accomplishments, all of which we are very pleased and excited about.

As we continue to meet the challenges of a growing department, new facility, curricular improvement, program development, faculty and staff support are all crucial priorities. In order to provide our undergraduate and graduate students with the finest opportunities within their chosen disciplines, we are stepping beyond the doors of the institution by collaborating with the Boulder community as well as regionally, nationally and internationally. Our previously highlighted programs such as the Visiting Artist Program, the Visiting Scholar Program, ArtsBridge Scholars Program, and the Pre-Collegiate Program continue to grow and thrive.

To commemorate our successes and to bid farewell to our old digs in Sibell-Wolle we initiated a two day exhibition and celebration called TOAST. TOAST was an exhibition and reunion of the Art & Art History community marking our new direction in the visual arts. We invited graduate and undergraduate students, alumni, faculty and staff to produce individual site responsive works that previewed on October 5 & 6, 2007
In keeping with student desires to "build green”, the Visual Arts Complex (VAC) is designed to achieve LEED certification for environmental sustainability. With approximately 90% of Sibell-Wolle being reclaimed, TOAST was NOT the marked loss of our building, but an opportunity to rethink our environment with a look to the future.

Thank you for your continued interest in the Department of Art and Art History.

Respectfully,

Garrison Roots, Chair

Contribute to the Visual Arts Complex fund-raising campaign.