Auburn art students are looking to further Auburn’s cultural identity by raising a $25,000 endowment to start an art lecture series on Auburn’s campus.
“Culturally and artistically, there is no reason that Auburn shouldn’t bring in the big names,” Kelly McGinnis, a senior in fine arts and president of the Association of Visual Arts, said.
The AVA has taken the lead by creating the Visual Art Students Visiting Artists and Scholars Program. The program coined the nickname “VAS squared.”
“Students have noticed that in order to see distinguished artists and scholars, they have to go to other places in the area that have larger budgets,” said Barb Bondy, the AVA adviser. “That type of activity reflects on the program and the University. In recognizing that this is something we do not have the budget for here in the art department, students took their own initiative.”
Bondy said the AVA is 50 Auburn students strong.
“We’re trying to bring in big name artists, so the students have more of a voice in who comes,” McGinnis said. “We’ve got a great lecture, artist talk program right now, but we want it to be mainly students choosing who to come.”
Supported by an anonymous donation, the students kicked off the idea of creating an endowment for future students.
This endowment would bring distinguished artists and scholars to Auburn, so that Auburn could be an artist’s haven and cultural center.
“Once we’ve established the endowment, then others who wish to donate to the art department, alumni and so forth, could actually help with this ongoing lecture series,” Bondy said. “We’re proud of our students for taking on the initiative.”
This week, art students promoted “Art for the Heart” and sold Valentine’s Day cards that were handmade by art students and art faculty members.
“For the last week, we had about four or five days where art students were called to one room in the department from 5 - 8 p.m. and everyone got together to make cards,” Bondy said of the Valentine’s Day cards fundraiser.
Though it is a student-led initiative, the faculty is generously supporting their endeavors.
Some have given donations, and the department head had an evening at her home and invited people to make Valentine’s cards.
Every Monday morning from 9:30 - 11 a.m., the art students host an “art break” where they sell breakfast and coffee “to get through that Monday slump” McGinnis said.
Also, the AVA has a luncheon with a raffle planned where some of the Auburn faculty’s artwork will be sold.
In April, the AVA will be having a “starving artists” sale. The students will sell their old art supplies for the endowment fund.
“The campus isn’t as aware of what’s going on, so we’re hoping to have a huge production bringing in well known artists and having it student run, so that students from other organizations and majors and departments feel they can be involved in it,” McGinnis said.
The AVA is looking to broaden the appeal of the art department’s lecture series by involving various campus organizations and students with majors besides art, so it is a campus wide venture.
“I am an art enthusiast,” said Clay McKinnis, a junior in entrepreneurship and family business. “I like to collect art as much as I can, it’s a creative outlet and it’s a great investment.”
This art enthusiast’s appreciation drove him to the Flotin Folk Art Auction in Beuford, Ga., this past weekend and to many other art exhibits.
“Auburn lacks the icing on the cultural cake, but this lecture series helps by charming many different audiences,” McGinnis said. “If Auburn could raise the money and have this lecture series, which would bring in a diverse group of artists, it would culturally enrich Auburn’s campus.”
If he could be on the lecture series selection panel, he said he wishes artists like Purvis Young could come to Auburn.
“Awareness needs to be promoted,” McGinnis said. “We’ve got the vision. We just need the help.”
Look for upcoming AVA events in Biggin Hall to promote the AVA’s endowment fund.
