Library News

The Flaxman Library has been informed that it will receive $3,000 for the purchase of library materials in the subject areas of performance art and performance poetry as part of a grant from the Illinois Cooperative Collection Management Program to several libraries. Flaxman’s portion of the grant application was written by Henrietta Zielinski, Flaxman Library Bibliographer. Other libraries participating in the Theater Arts Cooperative Collection Project for 2004 include: Columbia College, DePaul, Elmhurst College, North Central College, Eastern Illinois, Southern Illinois, Western Illinois, UIUC, and Danville Area Community College.

SAIC Roads Scholarships recipients

SAIC students Dylan Baker, Juliana Driever, and Jennifer Lopez recently received awards of $1,000 from SAIC’s Roads Scholarship Fund for Research and Travel, which supports the advancement of scholarship in the genre of art environment. This area of study examines combinations of art, architecture, and/or landscape architecture, as explored in the SAIC art history course Integ-rated Visions: 20th Century Art Environments.

Students who successfully completed course requirements were invited to submit proposals for research projects that address an aspect of the genre of art environments. Scholarships were awarded based on the content and feasibility of project proposals, including plans for documentation. Instructors Lisa Stone, Jim Zanzi, and SAIC Dean Carol Becker reviewed proposals.

SAIC sculpture professor receives fellowship

Gilpin Faust, dean of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, has announced that SAIC sculpture professor A. Laurie Palmer is among 56 men and women selected as 2003-2004 Radcliffe fellows. Chosen from a pool of 738 applicants, the 13 scientists, 8 artists and writers, 16 humanities scholars and 19 social scientists will work individually at Radcliffe, located in Cambridge, MA, and across disciplines on projects chosen for their quality and long-term impact.

Palmer, an associate professor in SAIC’s sculpture department since 1997, will develop a sculpture and PARALLEL essay project that focuses on the idea of “land” as space, raw material, and commodity. In the context of a world popularly perceived as shrinking, her project explores the association of “land” with notions of abundance, independence, and potential. Beginning with research into mines and underground storage sites in the U.S. and remediation techniques for toxic waste dumps, Palmer investigates contradictions between perceptions and material realities of “land.”

2002-2003 SAIC awards recipients

Students Esmeralda Baltazar, Sarabeth Berk, Chelsea Culp, and Maya O’Neal are the recipients of the Peanut Butter Award, which recognizes degree-seeking students who continue their education at SAIC and whose work exemplifies being both an artist and a leader. The annual reward, created by the 1999-2000 student governments, is at least $500. A jury that includes faculty, students, and staff select the Peanut Butter Award recipients and observe the following criteria: consistent and active involvement in the community through roles as artist and leader; collaborative efforts to become more involved with, improving and/or solving campus issues and concerns; service to the school and/or larger community through work and/or volunteer positions; and promoting a sense of community.

George Roeder, Chair of the Visual and Critical Studies Program, received the Faculty of the Year Award, which is sponsored by Student Government. The purpose of the Faculty of the Year Award is to give students the opportunity to recognize a faculty member who has made outstanding contributions to SAIC and the student experience. A jury committee of students, staff, and faculty review applications. The student that nominated Roeder had the following to say about him: “He untangles the seriousness of studies, mixing humor in at appropriate junctions, and also maintains a critical eye and questions material thoroughly. His knowledge is endless and can make connections and historical references to anything.”

New chair appointed to auxiliary board

John Burcher has been appointed chair of the Auxiliary Board of SAIC. He is also a member of SAIC’s President’s Council. Since 1991, Burcher has been a design principal at DeStefano Keating Partners, Ltd., a prestigious architecture and interior design firm. There he has led the development of several major corporate office and interior projects for McDonald’s, Hamilton Partners, McHugh Construction, and Leo Burnett USA.

SAIC’s Auxiliary Board was established in 1987 to encourage participation, advocacy, and support of SAIC by local businesses and community leaders. The Auxiliary Board hosts creative fundraising events that increase visibility, make new friends, and raise critical unrestricted support for the school. Mentoring opportunities and internships are also strongly supported by Auxiliary Board members