By Brianna Wallen
Editor-in-Chief
The campus art gallery offered students more than a place to view artwork. The “Buley Art Gallery Ceramics: Selections from the Permanent Collections,” gallery provided opportunities to experience different cultures, learn about history and engage with artwork created by members of the university community.
Jason Phan, a university assistant who works with the gallery, said the collection dates to the 1970s.
“A lot of the pieces we have here have to do with certain cultures that we don’t remember a lot of history about so that’s really important to preserve that,” Phan said.
Although the gallery has moved between several locations over the years, its current space continues to preserve artwork and historical pieces for the campus community.
The gallery featured a variety of works, including sculptures, drawings, prints, African artwork, French artwork and historical documents.
Some pieces have been donated, while others have been acquired by the university.
For students studying arts and design, the gallery also provides an opportunity to display their own work.
Graphic design students and as well as students from various art departments can hold exhibitions in the gallery, allowing them to showcase their artistic skills.
Students also have input into how exhibitions featuring their work are presented.
“If they’re doing a ceramic show for ceramic students, they can give input on how they want their show to be set up. If it’s a show for them, they can have a say in how they want their work displayed,” Phan said.
The gallery can also connect students with opportunities outside the classroom.
According to Phan, organizations that work with the gallery may provide information about internships, while students can use exhibitions to promote their work and potentially connect with people interested in commissiong artwork.
“If organizations get in touch, they sometimes offer informational opportunities if they want to reach out for internships,” Phan said.
Students do not have to consider themselves artists to benefit from visiting the gallery.
Phan said classes sometimes visit to learn about artwork and its connection to history.
“A bunch of the classes come here to talk about our history, certain works and how things are important for the time and how it connects to history,” Phan said.
The collection also includes historical objects that give students an opportunity to see materials that have been preserved for generations.
“This is one of the best historical ones we have it’s a religious document that’s well preserved and we have a lot of documents like this that are part of a collection,” Phan said
The gallery’s artwork can also encourage students to question what they know about history.
Phan described a photograph of an early militia from colonies that includes women, raising questions about their roles during that period.
“This is a photograph of an early militia from the colonies, but it displays a lot of women in it, so we weren’t really sure about the details and what they were doing at that time we also have a bunch of works that kind of make you question history a little bit,” Phan said.
The gallery also preserves artwork connected to the university’s own history.
Phan discussed former sculpture professor Olaf Zeidenberg who contributed to the university’s community and established a scholarship for students interested in art. His artwork remains part of the gallery’s collection.
“He was just a big part of this community, and we wanted to showcase him because he made a lot of contributions to the community,” Phan said.
Phan encourages students and staff to learn about the exhibitions and see what is currently displaying.
Students interested in displaying their own work can also contact the gallery curator Cort Sierpinski.
Phan said students should not be afraid to take the opportunity.
“I always feel like it’s worth giving it a shot. You can always contact Cort Sierpinski the curator here if it’s a specific work you want or a big display, students can always feel free to reach we do a lot of studio shows,” Phan said.
The gallery collection demonstrates that art can serve as more than decoration.
For students, it can provide a connection to history, culture and the university community while creating opportunities for emerging artists to have their work seen.
