 | Board of Visitors minutes May 9, 1952 |  |
ART SCHOOL
President Darden stated that a controversy had arisen over the failure of the University
to renew the contracts of two members of the art faculty. This action had been taken upon the
recommendation of the chairman of the school and the Dean of the College.
One of the members of the art faculty had prepared a memorandum concerning the school
which he had sent to Mr. Gay, which memorandum was distributed to the members of the Board.
President Darden stated that he had asked Dean Lewis to prepare a report for submission
to the Board and had also asked Dean Lewis to appear in person and present his report. The President
said he thought it was important for the Board to determine as a policy matter whether or
not it was to pass upon the fitness of the chairman of each school. In the past this had been
purely an administrative matter. He personally believed Mr. Smith, the chairman of the art school,
to be a competent artist and a satisfactory chairman.
Mr. Gay stated that the question before the Board is whether or not Mr. Smith is a
capable administrator. He said that artists tend to be temperamental and this factor certainly
should be considered in evaluating the administrative work of the chairman.
President Darden inquired if the Board wished to select the chairman of each school.
Mr. Howard stated that he does not believe the selection of the chairman is a function of the
Board, that this is a responsibility of the President.
Mr. Gay stated that there is a sharp divergence of views as to the type of art training
which should be given at the University: (1) the University may develop a professional art school
as advocated by Messrs. Carter and Johnson, or (2) the University may develop art as a part of a
liberal arts education
The Rector stated that he thought the Board was getting on dangerous ground - he questioned
very seriously whether this matter should be considered by the Board. Mr. Howard stated,
"I disqualify myself to pass on this matter."
Mr. Gay then read a resolution of the Board passed November 14, 1947, on the report of
the special Committee of the faculty in respect to the School of Fine Arts, as follows.
"The following report was submitted by a special committee to study the
advisability of establishing a School of Fine Arts, in accordance with a resolution
adopted at a meeting of the Board on September 12, 1947, and was approved
as submitted."
He then read from the report the recommendations.
Dean Lewis then joined the meeting. Mr. Gay read the Campbell report dated November
8, 1947, to Dean Lewis and asked that he comment on whether or not the recommendations were being
carried out. Dean Lewis stated that the University was offering general courses in art open to
students in the College and in the Department of Education, as well as a major in art for those
students particularly interested in such a program. However, the enrollment in these courses
had been disappointing. Mr. Carter had joined the staff in 1948 and for the session 1951-52 he
had only one student in one class and two in another. Mr. Johnson for the first semester of the
current session had two students enrolled in his class, and only one the second semester. In
1949-50 Mr. Johnson started the school year with seven students, but only two continued in the
spring semester
Dean Lewis stated that he had discussed the matter with the chairman of the art school
and with other members of the faculty and had come to the conclusion that both Mr. Johnson and
Mr. Carter were good artists but were not good teachers. Dr. Lewis stated that it was his understanding
that art at the University was to be part of a liberal arts education and not training for
professional painters and sculptors. The University gives studio courses in drawing, painting,
sculpture and graphic arts. All of these courses are open as electives in the College. In his
general art class Mr. Smith has 33 students enrolled, and 8 in graphic arts
Mr. Gay asked Dean Lewis why the art school did not employ models. Dr. Lewis stated
that Mr. Carter and Mr. Johnson had requested a female model and that Mr. Smith had discussed
the matter with him and the President and they felt it would be inadvisable at this stage to employ
such models
Dr. Lewis then read a statement he had prepared, part of which reads as follows:
"The formal courses now offered carry out the intent of the Board. More, however, needs
to be done to attain the end of giving general enrichment to the cultural life of the University
community. In order to do this two things are necessary.
First, there are needed as professors artists who not only know the techniques of their
profession but who also have a sound academic background and a wide knowledge and critical appreciation
of the place of art in western civilization. It is not enough to be merely a professional
painter or sculptor
The teaching of the various courses can and should be improved. The opportunity to
achieve this end is at hand by the selection of men to replace Messrs. Carter and Johnson.
Second, opportunity must be given the Division of Art to extend its influence to the
student body. This can be done by seminars and discussions open to the public, by exhibitions
and demonstrations by members of the staff, by exhibitions of student work, by talks by visiting
artists, and by movies illustrating working methods employed by well-known artists. Such materials
are all available either free or at a moderate rental
This program is not possible under present lack of suitable space and equipment. With
the completion of the new Academic Building, space should be provided in Cocke Hall or elsewhere
to furnish the adequate quarters without which a good program cannot succeed
The committees which have been studying the whole matter have aimed at carrying out the
wishes of the Board to provide (a) elementary art courses to undergraduate students in the College
for elective credit, and (b) advanced courses in art to art majors. Both objectives have been
attained
In order to set up conditions under which work on art would develop, the committee recommended
to the Faculty and the Faculty accepted the division of the McIntire School of Fine
Arts (excluding Music, which has an independent status) into two divisions, each with its own
chairman and its own program of studies. The Division of Architecture is currently under the
chairmanship of Mr. Disque, and the Division of Art under Mr. Smith
The courses in Art are given as listed in the Catalogue with two modifications. Art
1-2. General Art, has been reorganized in such a way that the course is given not by Mr. Smith
alone but by members of the staff. It is divided into three studio groups, one of painting, one
of sculpture, and one of graphic arts including drawing. This course is intended for students
without previous training and serves in addition as instruction to help the student select the
field in which he wishes to concentrate. The other change is merely introductory to a new course
on Architecture and Arts in the Far East for which there has been considerable demand.
The slowness of Art to develop a program more widely selected by students is due to two
factors, first, the reorganization carrying out the wishes of the Board has been so recent that
there has been not yet time to build up a good body of students taking these courses. The second
handicap has been inadequate quarters, aggravated by the fact, as pointed out by Mr. Johnson, that
at least one of the studios was so cold that classes frequently could not be held there at all.
The chief trouble came with the studio of sculpture
It is my opinion that Mr. Smith should be continued in the chairmanship until he has a
better opportunity to prove himself. It was remarked to him by a former member of the staff that
he was beginning with two strikes against him, the strikes being Messrs. Carter and Johnson, both
capable artists but lacking in the background which is absolutely necessary for good work at the
college level. Mr. Smith realizes what fine possibilities there are and I believe that he is the
man to get ahead with the program
Mr. Smith is a well-known artist in his own right in more than one field, he has had
successful teaching experience elsewhere and knows thoroughly what can be done with art as a cultural
college subject
The criticism raised by Mr. Johnson is, in my opinion, absolutely unwarranted. It is
true that Mr. Smith, although he has worked in the modern fields, has a deep appreciation and a
good knowledge of classic art. In my opinion, it would be a primary error to have anyone head
the Division of Art who knows and values only the modern techniques and the modern approach. The
students certainly should know the different brands of blzarre and tortured art about which there
is so much stir in the Richmond papers. If the chairman of the department, however, should confine
himself to the modern movements such as cubism, surrealism, abstractionism and all the rest
and to regard as outdated and of no consequence the work of Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Raphael, Da
Vincl and the great masters of the past, it would be simply silly. It would be like having the
School of Music devoted to jungle music and the blues, ignoring Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and the
great masters of music. Mr. Smith, while a modernist himself, has a deep appreciation of the
classical tradition. This is as it should be
I have been very much pleased with the way Mr. Smith has taken hold. I have already
mentioned some handicaps and would add to this the fact that he has taken over the directorship
of the Press to the detriment of his major function. I think we ought to give him the opportunity
to develop Art as a college subject with such space and facilities as the University can afford.
I feel that he has already proved himself and I respect his judgment in moving to replace the
gentlemen whose training he considers to be inadequate while admitting their technical skill.
I recommend that Mr. Smith be continued at least for the present in the chairmanship
The Board thanked Dr. Lewis for coming to Fredericksburg to appear before it. Dr. Lewis
then left the meeting
Mr. Gay stated that he would prefer seeing the art school abolished rather than continued
in its present state. President Darden stated that an excellent replacement had been found
for Mr. Johnson, and unless there was objection, he would present this young man's name for election
at the next meeting
| Board of Visitors minutes May 9, 1952 | |