October 16, 2006

Students Sarah Fendley, Eric Bork and Emily Fleming critique a work in the art department’s new 3,000-square-foot studio space.

Lyon College’s assistant professor of art said a recent anonymous donation that created a new 3,000-square foot studio gives current students some much needed space in which to work, and will also be a major asset when it comes to recruiting future students into the program.

Chris Valle said the nameless donor gave almost $55,000 to Lyon College, and added that it was the recommendation of President Walter Roettger and Dean John Peek that approximately $25,000 of this money be allocated to renovate a "rundown storage area" in the Scottish Heritage Building into a viable studio space built specifically for the art department.

The remainder of the funding was subsequently spread among the various areas of the fine arts program to aid with trips and scholarships in theatre, music and art.

"It takes our upper level students out of the Fulkerson Studio in the Alphin Building, where things have been somewhat chaotic at times due to lack of space, and gives them their own individual studio area," Valle said.

Having those individual studio spaces distinguishes Lyon College from most other schools in the area.

"We are one of the very few colleges that offer individual studio spaces for undergraduate students," Valle said. "Having it will really accelerate their growth and education. It really opens it up for them."

The individual studios and critique area was constructed much like a graduate program set-up, he added. Every studio class, including Art 101, uses the critique area to review and discuss work – work that can be viewed in a professional format.

The new space includes an open gallery with track lighting, two computers, a ventilated room for using volatile chemicals, a bathroom and several personal studios for upper-level students. This new space also allowed room to expand the sculpture area in the old studio and increased the space for studio classes held there.

In addition to adding new space, the facility frees up room at Fulkerson Studio for the improving sculpture program being developed by Valle and Merritt Johnson, the new assistant professor of art.

"We’ve added some new tools in Fulkerson like a drill press, belt/disk sander and a band saw," Valle said.

Valle also has a personal studio in the newly renovated area, which will enable him to be more available to students outside of class. It also allows him to show them the progression of an idea through to completion.

The new facility will serve to benefit the College as well because of its value when recruiting future students. The art program has been steadily growing since Valle joined the faculty in 2003, and the space addition will help continue and improve upon that trend, he said.

"It’ll generate more interest in our art program," he said. "Being able to offer upper level students their own individual studio working space will be a major recruiting tool for the College."

Valle said much credit is due to the maintenance staff and the individuals who helped renovate the space over the summer, most of the time without air conditioning.

"They turned a rundown storage area into a viable, professional-looking studio space," he said. "We appreciate their hard work."