Fresno State’s art program was officially launched as the “School of Art, Design & Art History” on Jan. 22. The department celebrated this change with a launch party that took place at the Phebe Conley Art Building.
“I felt we needed to be recognized for the larger entity that we are,” said Holly Sowles, School of Art, Design & Art History department chair.
Sowles said that the arts department has approximately 710 major graduates, six different programs and 51 faculty members. This growing arts program was all the more reason to apply to officially become a school.
The evening started with an art donation ceremony, in which speakers expressed gratitude for the growing arts department at Fresno State. The seats were filled with art students and faculty members waiting for the ceremony to begin.
Speeches were conducted by Xuanning Fu, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, Honora Howell Chapman, dean of the College of Arts and Humanities and Chris Lopez, Center for Creativity and the Arts Program director.
The ceremony started with associate professor and event organizer Saam Noonsuk acknowledging the current Phebe Conley Art Gallery exhibit, “Gifted,” the Japanese Art of Kyōsai, Kyōsui and Kyōtei from the Richard E. Dyck Collection, which runs until Feb. 6.
Fu began his speech by celebrating the art donation as it will “benefit generations within Fresno State”. Fu said art reflects the society, philosophy and daily world of whatever period it was made in.
“Every viewer of the art piece is an artist,” Fu said.
Fu said that Fresno State builds the foundation of the local community.
“This is the true sense of education,” he said.
Dyck, a Fresno State alumnus, is also a Harvard graduate who has been living in Japan. His journey exploring the abundant culture of Japan started after taking a study abroad trip to Tokyo as a student.
“What changed my life was a trip to Japan,” Dyck said.
Dyck’s keynote speech started by explaining how walking down the halls of the music building, listening to students practicing, student theater performances and seeing the student art gallery were some of his favorite moments. He said that students who participated in the arts were deeply passionate about their craft.
Dyck shared a book by Ezra Vogel titled “Japan as Number 1” and said there are ways Americans can learn from Japan’s healthcare system, low crime rates and clean and rideable subways. He later talked about the spread of Buddhism from South Asia to East Asia and its relations to some of the pieces in the “Gifted” exhibition.
The School of Art, Design & Art History of Fresno State gifted a woodblock painting to Dyck, the donor.
The School of Art, Design & Art History installs 30-33 shows a year and has also installed artwork in the Dean’s Gallery at the College of Arts and Humanities. The department has two galleries: Phebe Conley Art Gallery and The Graduate Art Studios at M Street.
