t’s not that he doesn’t like paintings, fiber or ceramics – he does. It’s just that James Myford, Slippery Rock University professor emeritus of art, has a different passion – aluminum sculpture. “I just really fell in love with that particular metal,” he said. Myford, who taught at SRU from 1968-1997, is an internationally known sculptor. SRU recently renamed the Art Sculpture Building the James C. Myford Art Sculpture Building in recognition of his contributions as an artist and educator. Myford, along with Robert Smith, president emeritus, was also responsible for helping to launch the University’s inaugural Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition. The Exhibition featured sculptures by 10 national artists, including Myford’s “Triangle Form” as part of the University’s 10th Annual Kaleidoscope Arts Festival. “The idea for the Exhibition was to introduce the public to outdoor sculptures,” Myford said. “I just think it brings another dimension to the University in the sense of beauty and outdoor spaces.” Myford, who specializes in cast and fabricated aluminum sculptures, said the building renaming provoked feelings of pride and nostalgia for his teaching career. A specialist in small and
From the Dean: The James Myford Sculpture Invitational was a great success and a valuable initiative legated to us by former President Robert M. Smith. It fits his vision of enhancing the nature of the University as a premier residential institution where all students can have access to innovative artistic expressions as a crucial part of their liberal arts education. – Eva Tsuquiashi-Daddesio
large-scale aluminum works, Myford said he involved students in his own art and exhibitions because of the educational value. “What I was always interested in was expanding the classroom at Slippery Rock University,” he said. “Students helped me with bigger commissions, such as ALCOA, and they would go with me to set up shows in Chicago, Florida and Toronto.” Over the years, Myford said he has created and sold many sculptures to both private and corporate collections in the U.S. and Japan, Sweden, Venezuela, Australia and Brazil. He said he creates about 15 sculptures a year and can be working on as many as six at a time. Larger sculptures take up to 10 months to complete. At SRU, he started as an instructor and moved up to professor. He also served as art department chairperson from 1987-1993. He has statues permanently displayed in front of SRU’s Swope Music Hall and in downtown Slippery Rock. Myford said his work, while abstract, is linked to nature and reality. “Materials become humanized when rearranged by my ideas, feelings and hands,” he said. “This concept has been the root system, the inspiration and the energy source for my sculpture.” He has received numerous awards for his work including the Environmental Award of Excellence from ALCOA, First Place Sculpture Award from the Bruce Museum in Connecticut and Outstanding Educators Award from the Pennsylvania Art Education Association. www.SRU.edu
33
College of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts
I
Art professor emeritus sculpts legacy