EDITOR’S NOTE
The Fall Semester had many high points for RCCAM–especially the MarCom team! The new brand rollout and redesign of the magazine were exciting and refreshing, and we have received great feedback about our new look. Thank you!
We also had an extremely successful year with our Art Museum Student Organization (AMSO). This group has been on the rise growing stronger each year with some very talented and motivated students at the wheel. Additionally, we are making great progress with our Museums Miami collaboration, adding a student assistant position to the team to help us focus on marketing all of Miami's collecting partners.
On a personal note, it was super exciting for me to launch into the new academic year as my daughter begins her studies at Miami. Since the very first day I brought her to campus (2011), she has loved visiting the Art Museum and decided early on that she wanted to study at Miami. Welcome Makayla and the class of 2028!
This Spring is set for more excitement as we roll out new exhibitions, engaging programs, and events.
I'm especially excited to be working with students and faculty in Miami's Art Therapy program as we launch a new student Art and Wellness at Miami University (AWMU) program funded through a Miami University Mental Health Incubator Grant—this program hosted at RCCAM will be run by students for students and we are thrilled to be supporting student mental health and wellness.
This semester we are also featuring alumni who worked, interned or volunteered at the Art Museum through Alumni Spotlights, a few of which are in this issue with more "loading" on our blog and socials throughout the year.
VAAM
1 From the Director 2 About the Art Museum
People of RCCAM - Alumni
Sculpture Feature - Nancy Holt 8 In Memoriam 9 McGuffey Moments 10 Exhibition: From the Collection 11 Exhibition: Tooling Around with Jim Dine 12 Exhibition: Art & Exchange: African Textiles in the Global Marketplace 13 Upcoming & Other Exhibitions
Donor Spotlight 18 Hiestand Galleries 20 Exhibitions and Programs at a Glance
Sherri Krazl, Editor Marketing/Communications
Visual Arts at Miami (VAAM) is a bi-annual publication of the Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum (RCCAM) showcasing visual arts and museums at Miami University for members and the community.
Distributed to the sustaining members of the Art Museum and placed in coffee shops and arts centers, Visual Arts at Miami (VAAM) is also available digitally through the companion blog at blogs.MiamiOH.edu/ VisualArts.
Check the back cover (page 24) for a detailed map, contact information and hours.
On the Cover: Louise Nevelson (American, b. modernday Ukraine, 1899-1988) Rain Zag IX, 1978; Wood with paint, 45 1/2 x 71 1/2 x 9 inches; Gift of Western College Alumnae Association, Inc.; 1980.37.
Zack and Makayla Krazl during a museum visit (Fall 2014).
FROM THE DIRECTOR
Welcome to the Spring 2025 edition of VAAM! We’re excited as we continue to plan for the renovation and expansion of the Art Museum. RCCAM is also going through a process of strategic planning for 20252030 and alignment with Miami University’s plan. We look forward to reaching out to our Members for their feedback during this process.
We have three exciting new exhibitions on view this Spring. Art and Exchange: African Textiles in the Global Marketplace in the Farmer Gallery promises to be a visually rich and engaging presentation of innovative new perspectives on original artworks from our extensive textiles collection, incorporating research by Miami University students who cocurated the exhibition as part of the Art and Architecture History Capstone course.
Tooling Around with Jim Dine in the McKie Gallery presents a selection of prints by the Cincinnati artist that highlight the role of tools in his life and work. These detailed representations of tools symbolize both labor and creativity, providing insights into the world of this innovative artist who achieved fame in the era of Pop Art.
From the Collections in the Douglass Gallery presents key works from RCCAM’s collections within a new space for developing dialogue with and about visual culture in preparation for a future renovation and expansion of the museum. Important works such as Louise Nevelson’s Rain Zag IX and Robert Indiana’s The Confederacy: Alabama will be on view as well as other important works from RCCAM's collection.
In this issue, we also celebrate recent gifts of important artworks that enhance the collections from Jeffrey Horrell ‘75 and Rodney Rose (see pg 17). In addition, we're excited to announce that RCCAM
received a grant from America 250Ohio, through Ohio Humanities, enabling us to work with fine arts photographer Tina Gutierrez, videographer Asa Featherstone IV and food history expert Alan Wight, to develop an exhibition in 2026 with the provisional title Culture Crops, that combines personal stories from diverse food-growing communities with a food history and its meaning to Ohioans today.
We are extremely grateful for all the support of our members and patrons, our Miami University partners, grant-giving organizations, interns and our volunteers. Your generosity enables us to remain open to all and to build a stronger future. If you haven’t already, please become a member, or consider giving online today to support us.
We look forward to seeing you at RCCAM this Spring!
Jeffrey L. Horrell ’75 and Rodney F. Rose Director and Chief Curator of the Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum
John (Jack) D.M. Green
Photo by Ryan Singh
The Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum (RCCAM), completed in 1978 as the Miami University Art Museum, was designed by Walter Netsch of Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill in Chicago, and is situated on three acres of scenic sculpture park grounds. A division of the College of Creative Arts, the museum houses five galleries of exhibitions and a growing permanent collection of more than 17,500 artworks. The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) and is a proud member of the North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM).
Where is the Art Museum on Campus?
For starters, you can’t miss the large, industrial red sculpture by Mark di Suvero on the front lawn. The Art Museum is also just a 7-minute walk from the Armstrong Student Center, diagonally across from Tappan Hall, at the intersection of S. Patterson Ave. and Chestnut St., right when you enter Oxford off of St. Rte. 27.
What can the Art Museum do for Students?
Lots of things! The Art Museum is a great place to see diverse exhibitions and explore outstanding works of art. You can also work, intern, volunteer, join the Art Museum Student Organization (AMSO), and attend lectures and social events.
What can the Art Museum do for the Public?
The Art Museum and Sculpture Park are FREE AND OPEN to ALL and is an excellent venue for exploring arts and culture from around the world. Membership in support of programs and exhibitions is available at varying levels. Each one offers a higher level of engagement with the museum via special-invitation-only events and programs. More information on the member program is available on our website via the Members link.
Jack Green, Jeffrey L. Horrell ’75 and Rodney F. Rose Director and Chief Curator
Hope Cook, Senior Program Assistant
David Dotson, Preparator/Building Manager
Sherri Krazl, Marketing/Communications
Jennifer Laqualia, Collections Manager and Registrar
Jason E. Shaiman, Curator of Exhibitions
Stevie Woolf, Administrative Assistant
MiamiOH.edu/ ArtMuseum
AND CONTACT
Richard and Carole Cocks
Art Museum at Miami University 801 S. Patterson Ave. Oxford, OH 45056 (513) 529-2232
ArtMuseum@MiamiOH.edu
Facebook.com/MiamiOHArtMuseum Instagram.com/MiamiOHArtMuseum
YouYube.com/@miamiohartmuseum linktr.ee/MiamiOHArtMuseum
tiktok.com/@miamiohartmuseum
Tuesday–Friday: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.
Saturday: 12–5 P.M.
Second Wednesdays: 10 A.M.–8 P.M.
Closed: Sunday, Monday, national holidays, university closures, and during installation (more info on website.) HOURS
HEY, DO YOU HAVE A MINUTE?
Over the last year, we've enjoyed sharing short-form videos on our social media accounts as well as our YouTube channel (YouTube Shorts) about pieces in the collection through our popular series, Art in a Minute.
If you aren't familiar with them, we encourage you to go check them out. They can be found on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. If you aren't already following us on your favorite platform, consider doing that. Then we would love it if you would like, share, and comment when you see one you like.
Art in a Minute is just one example of video content we are sharing. Digital Media Assistant, Ryan Singh, a Junior Business Analytics major has been working at the museum since the Fall of 2022. His main focus is creating video content both short and long-form to showcase both fun and interesting content to our audiences.
Since the launch of our video content strategy in the Fall of 2022, we have gained over 500,000 views across all our videos in over 150+ short form videos.
Explore our digital video content online by visiting www. linktr.ee/RCCAMinMotion - where you can quickly navigate to our "moving" content featured on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok (@MiamiOHArtMuseum).
ART MUSEUM ALUMNI
Hundreds of students have interned, worked and/or volunteered at the Art Museum since we opened in 1978. Meet a few of them here, and follow their stories on our blog ~ Moments at the Art Museum at sites.MiamiOH.edu/art-museum.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
ONE OF THE FIRST STUDENT WORKERS
Ann Taulbee ('81), was a student at Miami when the Art Museum opened and worked as a Student Assistant from 1978 through 1981. What an exciting time to be studying art at Miami University! Ann highlights a few of her most memorable experiences were in meeting and getting to know two of our sculpture park artists Nancy Holt and Fletcher Benton, and getting to be involved when their works were installed, and with the Benton exhibition in 1980. Ann has continued to be a part of the museum throughout her life, currently serving on the Membership Steering Committee. And she is just a hop, skip, and a jump across campus in her role as the Director of Hiestand Galleries.
>> READ MORE ONLINE [sites.MiamiOH.edu/art-museum]
GREETED GUESTS ALL FOUR YEARS!
Ben Fritz (17') worked in guest services since the Spring of his Freshman year at Miami through graduation! Fritz works in freight logistics and lives in Cincinnati. He thoroughly enjoyed being connected in the arts community at the museum during his undergrad years. He recalls enjoying each and every new exhibition and opening reception, interacting with the guests and being inspired by the artwork. In his down time he has been painting and also enjoys visiting the Cincinnati Art Museum on occasion.
LUCKY TO INTERN FOR EVERY MUSEUM DEPARTMENT
For Caroline (Bastian) Retcher ('19) picking Miami to study for her future role in museums was an easy choice - as soon as she met her professors and visited the Art Museum. Having already developed her passion for Art History, she knew from the start that this was what she wanted to do and that attending Miami and becoming entrenched with the Art Museum were high on her bucket list. After graduating with degrees in Art History and Arts Management, with a minor in Museums and Society, Caroline attended Penn State for Grad school. She is currently a Project Manager and Arts Administrator for the Arts Council of the African Studies Association (ACASA). One of the many highlights she shared was helping to plan the exhibition Telling a People's Story. She shared that this exhibition was so powerful, the projects she worked on gave her experiences that were unparalleled in her career development.
AND THERE'S MORE TO THEIR STORIES ...
Read more on our blog Moments at the Art Museum at sites.MiamiOH.edu/art-museum as we highlight these Alumni and more throughout the year. Did you or someone you know work, intern or volunteer at the Art Museum while a student at Miami? Send us a note via email to ArtMuseum@MiamiOH.edu with the subject Art Museum Alum so we can connect, hear about your experiences, and learn where you are now!
OF COURSE, THE NEXT CLASS IS ... AT THE MUSEUM
As the Collections Manager and Registrar, I am always thinking of the answer to the question, “How are we using our collections?” RCCAM has an extensive collection of over 17,500 objects, including paintings, works on paper, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, and more. Every semester, we work closely with faculty from various departments to help engage students inside and out of the classroom. We do this successfully by bringing in classes to the museum to look at physical objects that may relate to a specific topic they are studying. RCCAM is, at its core, an art museum; therefore, we engage heavily with the Art and Architecture History and Art Education majors. However, last semester (Fall 2024), and many previous semesters proved that both students and professors can connect to art even if it falls outside of their discipline.
Last semester, we had many returning professors visit the museum with students including Dr. Andrew Casper’s ART 316 class to study Francesco Solimena’s St. Philip Neri Swooning, Dr. Pepper Stetler’s ART487 to look at 20th century prints and ART 389 to look at objects relating to the History of Photography, and our own David Dotson’s ART 171 class to look at and discuss sculptures from our outdoor sculpture park.
Outside of the Department of Art, we engaged with Professor Ashley Goos of the Department of Theatre, where students studying choreography each chose a specific work in the galleries that spoke to them on a personal level and created a dance performance based on that piece.
Dr. Elaine Yuen brought her Fashion students to the museum to look at RCCAM’s collection of African raffia fiber textiles. Professor
Dilchoda Berdieva’s Introduction to International Studies brought her students in for a guided tour and assignment in our Global Perspectives Gallery led by Curator of Exhibitions, Jason Shaiman. We also had many classes and group tours relating to our Through Their Lens: Photographing Freedom Summer exhibition.
RCCAM (as you will see this Spring) also has worked extensively with Dr. Jordan Fenton’s ART498 class along with museum staff, interns, and volunteers to put together the Senior Capstone exhibition, Art and Exchange: African Textiles in the Global Marketplace. This is such an important class, as it teaches and guides students on how to create an exhibition from the ground up. My interns, Alexa Johnson and Cora Dunn, had a huge part in helping prepare for this extensive project, and to them, I am very grateful!
In addition to Miami classes and tours, I am thrilled that we were also able to bring in several local K-12 school field trips to the museum last semester, including the McGuffey Montessori Group and the Fairview Clifton German Language School 6th Grade Class, with the help of Dr. Stephanie Danker.
RCCAM strives to continue to be a teaching museum and a welcoming place for all ages and disciplines. We also welcome groups from outside of the classroom to schedule tours and visits. We look forward to seeing you all for our Spring exhibitions, open Jan 28-June 7.
Jennifer (Jenn) Laqualia, Collections Manager and Registrar and Interim Education Coordinator
CLIMBING INTO STAR-CROSSED
By Annie Dell’Aria, Associate Professor of Art & Architecture History
Intersecting tubes of concrete, topped by an unruly mound of earth and grass, seem out of place next to the woods and set among the pristinely mowed rolling hills of grass set against the sleek angles of the Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum (RCCAM). Venturing down the steep slope, the structure becomes enterable, causing voices to echo and cooling the air. The smaller, angled tunnel points towards an elliptical reflection pool, currently empty.
This curious structure, entitled Star-Crossed (1979-1981) is the work of American artist Nancy Holt (1938-2014), one of the most significant practitioners of Land Art. Emerging from the tumultuous 1960s, Land Art sought to move beyond the art gallery walls and make the earth itself into a sculptural medium. Artists like Michael Heizer and Robert Smithson turned to bulldozers and dynamite to make massive sculptures in remote locations in the American southwest. Holt maintained a photographer’s interest in optics and encouraged viewers to look up to the sky as much as feel the manipulation of the earth. Prior to Star-Crossed, Holt’s Sun Tunnels (1973-1976) in the Great Utah Basin Desert, established her artworld fame.
In 1978, students and faculty in Miami University’s Department of Architecture, led by Tom Bible, invited Holt to come to campus for a weeklong residency. What followed was a four-year relationship that saw Holt visit campus multiple times and create Star-Crossed as well as Polar Circle (1979).
Like the cut-out constellations in Sun Tunnels, Star-Crossed similarly “brings the sky down to the earth,” in Holt’s words, as its telescopic tunnel frames the North Star, making the entire structure into a compass of sorts. Holt discovered that in Oxford, magnetic and astronomical north alignan auspicious sign for the work’s success.
Holt made this work after Sun Tunnels and before completing Dark Star Park (1979-1984, Arlington, VA). The archives tell a story of one of the few land artists to successfully shift from remote landscapes to urban parks and university campuses. They tell of a woman struggling to carve a place for herself in the field while managing the estate and legacy of Land Art’s brightest star, her recently deceased husband, Robert Smithson.
Star-Crossed is an important work of American art and a fascinating case study on the history of universities and the shifting landscape for women sculptors in the late twentieth century.
Annie Dell’Aria is Associate Professor of Art History and teaches courses on Modern and Contemporary Art. She earned her BA from Harvard University and Ph.D. from The Graduate Center, CUNY. She is the author of the book The Moving Image as Public Art: Sidewalk Spectators and Modes of Enchantment (2021), and a number of articles and book chapters on public and contemporary art.
Header image: Nancy Holt (American 1938-2014), StarCrossed, 1979-1981. Earth, concrete, grass and water. Cooperative effort of Nancy Holt; College of Creative Arts (50th Anniversary); School of Interdisciplinary Studies; Departments of Art, Architecture, and Physical Facilities; Visual Arts Club; Alumni and Development Funds; Miami University Art Museum, Ohio Arts Council; and Walter A. Netch. Donations of time and material by Price Brothers Co., Antenen Construction Co., Sizemore Excavators, and Miami University Grounds and Physical Plant. 1979.S.0.3.
Top right: Installation of the first pipe. Above left: Preparing for the second pipe. Clockwise: Reflecting Pool Construction; Nancy Holt during construction of StarCrossed.
Visit the Art Museum blog at sites.MiamiOH.edu/art-museum to read the full article online.
RCCAM Archive, Miami University.
Look! Student Worker ('78-'81) Ann Taulbee was there.
IN MEMORIUM: WE PAY TRIBUTE
We’ve lost some notable Supporters of the Art Museum in the last several months. Here we pay tribute to them and honor their contributions to the Arts and our community.
Frances McClure (1934-2024), who served the Walter Havighurst Special Collections at Miami, had a love for weaving and textiles from around the world. The Jerry W. and Frances McClure Fund for Preservation of the Textile Collection was established in 2007 and contributes to the McClure Textile Fellowship. Frances was an active member of the Art Museum, and donated artworks and textiles, several of which are on view this Spring.
Marjorie Bowers ('62) (19402024) was a long standing member of the Art Museum alongside her husband Charles Bowers, who survives her. As a retired High School Art teacher, she was a woman of many talents and great enthusiasm. She painted, wrote several books, and sang with the Hamilton Fairfield Symphony Chorus. She served as a volunteer for the McGuffey House and Museum and as an Art Museum docent.
Audrey Flack (1931-2024) was a visual artist and feminist best known as a pioneer in photorealist painting. Flack became an Art Museum Benefactor, giving several artworks including Self Portrait Holding Charcoal Stick (1956) — on view this year in From the Collections.
Jay Zumeta (1944-2024), a retired professor of Art History from the Art Academy of Cincinnati, served on the Collections Development Committee as a specialist of ancient art. He also contributed to the exhibition and programming for Illuminating the Past (2019).
SATURDAYS AT THE MUSEUM
OPENEVERYSATURDAY
Prue Dana ('66) (1944-2024) was a member and donor. She served as education director for the Oxford Presbyterian Church, president of the League of Women Voters, on Oxford City Council during the 40th anniversary of Freedom Summer in 2004, and as Mayor of Oxford. Prue and her husband Steve have donated works of art to our collection.
Please consider a gift in honor or memory of a loved one to the Commemorative Fund at www.givetomiamioh.org/ artmuseum
| JAN28—JUN7,202512-5P.M.
THIRD SATURDAYS, FEB 15 | MAR 15 | APR 19 Art Explorers | 2-3:30 P.M. SATURDAYS, MAR 8 | APR 12 | MAY 10
Music at the Museum | 1-2 P.M.
Docent Drop-In Tours | 2-4 P.M.
THIRD SATURDAYS, FEB 15 | MAR 15 | APR 19
Final Saturday | JUN 7, 12-5 P.M. Reception, Refreshments, Tours, and Activities
SPOTLIGHT TOURS
RCCAM staff (and students) share insights into one or more artworks on display in the galleries. Attendees are welcomed to ask questions and engage in dialogue. Gallery seating is available.
WED, 12-12:30 P.M.
FEB 19 | MAR 19 | APR 16 | MAY 21
Learn more at: www.MiamiOH.edu/ArtMuseum
TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER DOCENT AND HELP FULFILL THE EDUCATIONAL MISSION OF THE ART MUSEUM
The Art Museum Docent Program, organized in 1980, continues to support the museum’s educational programs for school and community groups. Docents — all volunteers — lead interactive tours, conduct talks and offer a wide range of activities that connect art to our daily lives.
Docents are actively involved in our third Saturday Tour and Explore offering where guests can drop-in and engage with them in the galleries. They also are involved with many programs throughout the year including a Girl Scouts program, Art Explorers, school group tours and many other activities that involve our exhibitions, programs, and events.
Docents and staff meet regularly and complete training at the beginning of each semester. With this in mind, we are seeking to identify volunteers who have a genuine interest in art of all kinds and enjoy working with people of all ages and backgrounds. Volunteers will learn to lead tours in the gallery, learn about the museum’s permanent collection and study visual/material culture and contemporary art. No previous experience or training is required.
For additional information, please email us at artmuseum@MiamiOH.edu.
THE BUILDING BLOCKS
OF HISTORY
Stand on the front porch of the William Holmes McGuffey House & Museum, and you can almost imagine the first years that Miami offered classes. A man could stand on the front porch of the house, gazing across the then-dirt road that would become Spring Street, and look at the entire university: an academic building called Old Main and two dormitories. The potential for building a campus, however, must have been in the air. Who was that man? Very likely, it was John Bridgford.
While Professor McGuffey was busy writing his Readers and teaching Miami students, John Bridgford was working in the brick-making or building trades. He literally left his mark by signing a brick we have in the window of the McGuffey House. His inscription indicates that he signed it in Oxford in 1833, and the paint that remains on the outside-facing side of the brick suggests it was part of McGuffey’s house or one on Spring Street. Records show that he occupied a lot outside the Mile Square, paid his taxes regularly, and shared his home with his family.
When you visit a history museum such as the McGuffey House, nearly everything you look at carries the story of a human being. Famous or common, professor or laborer, wealthy or not, every person leaves their mark on the everyday items that shared their life.
William Holmes McGuffey made his mark by authoring books that taught generations of children to read and write. John Bridgford left his mark on a brick he once worked with. The two are united not only by Oxford and Miami, but also by the written word that preserved a glimpse of their lives. Not bad for men who likely both gazed across Spring Street and imagined what was to come.
Jennifer Patterson Lorenzetti, ('91), (MS ‘93) Administrator & Curator, McGuffey House & Museum
SPRING MCGUFFEY PROGRAMS
Held on the Second Tuesdays at the Art Museum, join us for these monthly McGuffey Programs.
WED, 3-4:30 P.M. ~ FEB 11 | MAR 11 | APR 8
The Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum (RCCAM) is committed to educational enrichment and enlightenment through art for the Miami University faculty, staff and students, the local community, and all visitors to Miami’s campus. With over 17,500 works, there is much to present, though not enough room to showcase many of the treasures carefully held within the museum. From the Collections presents a selection of works that represent the strengths, and visual and tonal diversity of the collection on a rotating basis.
This exhibition, situated in the first gallery allows for easy access to this collections focused exhibition space as needed when the other galleries are in transition for exhibition installations, which change twice per year. Planning for From the Collections is in
anticipation of future expansion and renovation, which will allow for the proposed semi-permanent display of works in the first gallery. The changing nature of this gallery will not disappear entirely. To include as many objects as possible, while simultaneously preserving more sensitive works, there will be presentations of new and familiar favorites made annually.
Though there is no topical theme for this particular exhibition, connections can be made between the objects in terms of historical and symbolic content. Works on display will range from paintings to prints, ceramics to textiles, sculpture to photography. This first iteration of works from the 17th to the 21st century is made possible through many generous gifts from donors and exciting acquisitions over the years.
FEATURED PROGRAM
SPOTLIGHT TOUR | WOMAN AT A WINDOW
WED, FEB 19 | 12-12:30 P.M.
Join Curator of Exhibitions, Jason Shaiman in the McKie Gallery, for a brief tour featuring Ferdinand Bol's, Woman at Window.
<< Ferdinand Bol (Dutch, 1616-1680), Portrait of a Woman at a Window, 1650-1654; Oil on canvas, 34 1/4 x 27 1/4 inches; Gift of Ernst Bever; 2017.10.4
Partner Level Sponsors: Dick and Kathy Sollmann
Supported by the Art Museum Members Association
Exhibition Graphics: David Shuppert ('25)
Curatorial Interns: Gigi Garceau ('24) and Alexis Mramor ('25)
Dedicated to crafting informative and captivating exhibitions that engage in dialogue with and about visual culture, RCCAM exhibitions celebrate and recognize artists near and afar. Tooling Around brings forth educational opportunities with a fun twist for all to see. Visitors are invited to experience with us the Pop Art era artist Jim Dine and his familially inspired A Tool Box and Ten Winter Tools series artworks. From scissors to pliers, Dine hammers home his reverence for his family and the striking facets of the human experience.
This exhibition features eleven works with varying mediums and meanings that follow the Dine's life and experiences. Shedding light on the influential artist’s life, this exhibition takes a look at interviews and quotes that give insight to his perspective on himself, his works, and life as a whole.
Across the objects, there are connections made of Dine’s family as well as the clear involvement of the Pop Art era’s inclusion of everyday, utilitarian objects and imagery from iconic cultural motifs. The collection of works ranged from lithographs, serigraphs, and photo serigraphs dating from 1966 and 1973, all with their own distinct qualities and intriguing applications of found mediums. The Art Museum’s collection of Dine tool prints would not be possible if not for the generous gifts from James H. and Frances R. Allen, and Jeffrey L. Horrell '75, and Rodney F. Rose, who donated the acquired works between 1999 and 2024.
FEATURED PROGRAMS
SPOTLIGHT TOUR
WED, APR 16 | 12-12:30 P.M.
Join Curator of Exhibitions, Jason Shaiman in the gallery, for a brief tour featuring Tool Box 1
EXHIBITION RECEPTION & PANEL PROGRAM
WED, APR 9 | 5-8 P.M. | Program starts at 5:30 P.M.
Tools and the Everyday in Pop Art and the Work of Jim Dine
Associate Professor of Art and Architecture History Annie Dell’Aria will speak about Dine and Pop Art. Professor of Art Tracy Featherstone will demonstrate the printmaking process.
Top right: Jim Dine, (credit: Hpschaefer, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons); Above left: Jim Dine (American, b. 1935) Tool Box 6, 1966; Photo Serigraph on paper with collage, (128/150), 30" x 24"; Gift of James H. and Frances R. Allen. 1999.5.3; Above right: Jim Dine (American, b. 1935), Ten Winter Tools: Scissors, 1973; Lithograph on paper. 30" x 22"; Gift of Jeffrey L. Horrell '75 and Rodney F. Rose. 2023.24.
Supported by the Miriam W. Howard Art Museum Fund and the Art Museum Support Fund
Exhibition Graphics: David Shuppert ('25); Curatorial Intern: Emily Bench ('25)
For the 14th Art and Architecture History Capstone Exhibition course (Fall 2024), students worked with staff of the Art Museum to develop this original exhibition Working with the museum and leading the content development was Dr. Jordan Fenton, Associate Professor of Art and Architectural History, who specializes in the West African art of Nigeria.
The Capstone exhibition is a unique and unparalleled experience for undergraduates in Art History at Miami University. Students obtained real-world experience curating an original exhibition drawing from RCCAM’s collection of African textiles.
Through a seminar format class led by Dr. Fenton, the students engaged in many readings and discussions about the rich history of textiles primarily in West and Central Africa. They distilled their learning and applied it to formulating the topic of African textiles and the role of local and global marketplaces through the contexts of
FEATURED PROGRAMS
RECEPTION & GALLERY TALKS
WED, MAR 12, 5-8 P.M. | Program: 5:30 P.M.
Join us as the Capstone student curators present on their research with Dr. Jordan Fenton who will also discuss the genesis and development of the exhibition. A reception celebrating the capstone exhibition is co-sponsored by the Department of Art.
AFRICAN TEXTILES AND WESTERN APPROPRIATION
WED, MAR 19, 10 A.M. | WEBINAR
Join this virtual conversation in partnership with the Miami University Alumni Association, Dr. Jordan Fenton and Elaine Yuen (Visiting Associate Professor of Fashion) will discuss the history and contemporary issues related to their subject.
SPOTLIGHT TOUR
| WED, MAR 19 | 12 P.M.
Join Capstone students Alexis Mramor and Annabel DeChant in the gallery for a brief tour featuring their researched pieces.
trade, fashion, performance, and politics.
This process gave students the opportunity to analyze the relationship between African textiles and the marketplace, and to learn about curation through hands-on experience. Students were charged with selecting the exhibition theme from a general concept of African textiles proposed by Dr. Fenton. Over a four month period, students chose and researched objects, wrote object labels and text panels, and conceived of the organizational flow and visual presentation of the exhibition.
Art & Exchange is the first exhibition the Art Museum has presented since 1984 that has explored African textiles in the collection with such depth.
The museum’s collection of African textiles exists thanks to a number of generous donors, including Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Berry, Ralph ('65) and Barbara Drake ('68) Bresler, Bertha Emerson, Walter I. Farmer, Cynthia Kelley, Frances McClure, and founding donor Orpha Webster.
Front Row (L-R): Sophia Talebi, Ashley Hoeh, Rachel Smith, Millie West, Chloe Gerhart, Annabel DeChant. Back
Ashleigh Brelage, Audrey Gehm, Connor McClelland, Lexi MangrumProkopiof, Sam Braden, Gigi Garceau, Louise McKinney, Alexa Johnson, Dr. Jordan Fenton. Not pictured: Anna Gaudreau, Will McMillan, Maggie Moloney, Alexis Mramor, Bella Papson, Erin Riley,
Above left: Gao, (Mali), Arkilla Jenggo (Wedding Blanket), 20th century; Cotton, 90" x 48"; 1982.106; top right: Artist Unknown (Fon, Ghana), Appliqué Textile, 20th century; Cotton with dyes, 34 x 48 inches; 1981.7.21. Both gifts of Ralph (‘65) and Barbara Drake (‘68) Bresler.
Supported by Partner Level Sponsor: William A. Brenner ('66); the Department of Art; and the Art Museum Membership Association
Row (L-R):
EXHIBITIONS AT RCCAM UPCOMING
FALL 2025 | AUG 26-DEC 13, 2025
FROM THE COLLECTIONS (DOUGLASS GALLERY)
This semi-permanent exhibition features a selection of key works to further demonstrate the diversity and expansiveness of the museum’s collection. Featured artists include Louise Nevelson, Ferdinand Bol, Francesco Solimena, Alfred Eisenstadt, Robert Indiana, Margaret Bourke-White, and selections of African art and material culture.
DEPARTMENT OF ART FACULTY AND ALUMNI EXHIBITION
(McKIE AND FARMER GALLERIES)
Featuring new work created since 2021, this quadrennial exhibition showcases work by current and emeriti faculty along with selected alumni. The exhibition celebrates and promotes the excellence of the Department of Art over the years, and offers a unique opportunity to explore recent trends in art.
SPRING 2026 | JAN 27-JUNE 13, 2026
CULTURE CROPS (FARMER GALLERY)
This America 250-Ohio funded project features Cincinnati-based fine arts photographer Tina Gutierrez's work - portraits that serve as a celebration of Ohio’s history and diversity of food growing communities. Culture Crops includes stories of Indigenous, immigrant, and local community and family farmers, and the history of the food they produce.
ART & ARCHITECTURE HISTORY SENIOR CAPSTONE (McKIE GALLERY)
This 15th Art History Capstone exhibition presents the work that Art & Architecture History students undertook during their preceding Fall ART498 course. The exhibition will be the result of work developed in collaboration with Dr. Annie Dell’Aria, Associate Professor of Art & Architecture History, who specializes in modern and contemporary art.
Art Building Lobby Spring Exhibitions 2025
FEB 1-28 | Elise McWilliams
MAR 1-16 | Visual Arts Club
MAR 16-APR 12 | Ron Stevens
APR 14-26 | Saturday Art
APR 27-MAY 11 | Effusions
MAY 12-SEP 1 | Scott Kissell
AMERICA 250 OHIO GRANT
RCCAM has received a $12,500 ‘Buckeye’ grant from the America 250-Ohio Commission, contributing to a creative and educational endeavor that brings people, art, food, and history together: the Culture Crops Photography Project.
Culture Crops engages fine arts photographer
Tina Gutierrez to create a series of portraits that celebrate Ohio’s history and diversity of food growing communities. With contributions from videographer Asa Featherstone and local food history expert Dr. R. Alan Wight, a special exhibition in Spring 2026 will include stories of Indigenous, immigrant, and local community and family farmers and the history of the food they produce. To find out more, read the news story at www.MiamiOH.edu/ArtMuseum.
Miami University has many museums, galleries, libraries and collections across all campuses (Oxford and Regionals) and all are free resources for exploration, enjoyment and research.
MUSEUMS MIAMI is a collaboration of these collections and galleries.
LEARN MORE AT: tinyurl.com/ MuseumsMiami
THE JOHN & BETTY MICHAEL AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL LECTURE IN ART EDUCATION
Dr. Marilyn Galvin Stewart
WHO’S CALLING? MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE AS A SERIES OF PHONE CALLS
MON, APR 7 | ART MUSEUM
Reception begins at 5:15 P.M. Lecture 6 P.M.
Presented by the Department of Art
Learn about Architecture and Interior Design programs and Cage Gallery exhibits by visiting tinyurl.com/ eventsmuaid
GallerySpring Programs 2025
ALUMNI HALL
CONTEMPORARY
ART FORUM
All ARTIST talks are on Thursdays in ART 100 (Art Building, 400 S. Patterson Ave.) unless noted.
FEB 6 | 5:50 P.M. | Alexis Rockman | Artist and Juror, 2025 Miami University Young Painters Competition
FEB 20 | 5:50 P.M. | Seth Green The Road Not Taken
FEB 27 | 5:50 P.M. | Kate Carlier Currie | Taking Over the World with Art
MAR 13 | 5:50 P.M. | DENISE BURGE The Glamour of Place
APR 7 | 6-7 P.M. | DR. MARILYN STEWART, JOHN AND BETTY MICHAEL | Distinguished Autobiographical Lecture in Art Education (Art Museum)
APR 10 | 5:50 P.M. | MATT COORS I Built a Chicken Coop
APR 24 | 5:50 P.M. | HANNAH PARRETT Facade, Prop, Backdrop
An Arts & Culture Event for All Celebrating Black Joy with Radical Hospitality
SAVE THE DATE!
Electric Root Festival Saturday, May 3, Uptown Parks
HONORING RECENT GIFTS OF JEFFREY L. HORRELL '75 AND RODNEY ROSE
By Curatorial Intern Alexis Mramor and Curator of Exhibitions Jason E. Shaiman
The Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum (RCCAM) is grateful to Jeffrey L. Horrell ‘75 and Rodney F. Rose, whose generosity has helped to shape and enhance the museum’s collection and mission. They secured lasting impact through their establishment of the endowed and named position of Director and Chief Curator in 2021 and the creation of the Jeffrey L. Horrell ’75 and Rodney F. Rose Art Museum Fund.
Their most recent contributions include forty acquisitions made in 2023-24, each selected with discernment and passion for art that resonates across time and style. Since 1992, Horrell and Rose have donated 52 works of art to the Art Museum, including prints, paintings, and photographs by renowned artists such as Sam Francis, Nan Goldin, Jim Dine, Balcomb Greene, and Varujan Boghosian, among others. They also provided gift funds that contributed to the museum’s purchase of an important work by Kara Walker entitled African/American (1998).
Their gifts greatly enhance and help expand the modernist collection of works at the museum, including women
artists and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) artists. Many of their gifts have been displayed over the years, including in the Art and Architecture History Capstone series by which students and faculty collaborate in curating exhibitions. Tooling Around with Jim Dine this Spring (see p.11) features works from among their most recent gifts.
Curatorial Intern, Alexis Mramor reflects on her experiences related to some of the gifted works here with highlights of pieces currently on view:
“As a student intern, I had the privilege of contributing to the development of the exhibition, Collection Highlights: Recent Acquisitions, which prominently features a selection of the works donated by Horrell and Rose. Working directly with these pieces gave me a firsthand appreciation for the diversity of their contributions and an understanding of how collectors curate personal collections. While consisting mostly of mid-20th century works, Horrell and Rose’s donations also consist of early 21st-century works on paper.”
Below are a selection of recently exhibited works from their collection:
Above (left to right) William Blair Bruce (Canadian, 1859-1906); Indian Camp, 1895; Oil on canvas, 15 x 22 inches; Gift of Jeffrey Horrell '75 and Rodney Rose; 2023.20 | Judith Brown (American, 1931-1992); Angry Bird, 1960s-1970s; Metal (steel or aluminum) with patina, 14 x 11 x 13 inches; Gift of Jeffrey Horrell '75 and Rodney Rose; 2023.19 | Alexander Calder (American, 1898-1976); Untitled from Paroles Peintes III, 1967; Etching on paper (number 199 of an edition of 200), 13 x 10 inches; Gift of Jeffrey L. Horrell ('75) and Rodney F. Rose; 2023.7
Find out more about these recent gifts by reading the Moments @ the Art Museum Blog and viewing our online collections page via tinyurl.com/rccam-df24
JAN 31-MAR 14
2025 MIAMI UNIVERSITY YOUNG PAINTERS COMPETITION FOR THE $10,000 WILLIAM AND DOROTHY YECK AWARD
Reception: FEB 7, 4:30-5:30 P.M.
Juror Talk: FEB 6, 5:50-6:40 P.M., 2025 Juror: Alexis Rockman, Artist
Through the generous gift from William ('36) and Dorothy Yeck of Dayton, Ohio, Miami University has a unique opportunity to provide students and the community at large to develop a critical understanding of painting in the 21st century. The competition winner will be awarded the $10,000 William and Dorothy Yeck Award and the painting will become part of Miami University’s permanent collection. This year’s competition focuses on Representational Realism Painting.
2025 Finalists: Maddie Hinrichs, Lincoln, Nebraska; Devan Horton, Bellevue, Kentucky; Clementine Keenan, Berkeley, California; Amuri Morris, Richmond, Virginia; Sangun Park, Fairview, New Jersey; Gabi Roach, Hamilton, Ohio; Gabrielle Siekman, Cold Spring, Kentucky; Brach Tiller, Detroit, Michigan; Amy Yeager, Bloomington, Illinois; and Monsieur Zohore, Richmond, Virginia.
APR 9-21
KELLEY BOOZE | MFA THESIS EXHIBITION
Reception: APR 10, 3:30-5:30 P.M.
Kelley Booze’s artwork investigates modalities of perception, spatial awareness, and underlying assumptions of the everyday world. Ideas of attention, openness, and presence are all central to her practice. By examining the role of experimentation, she continuously uncovers new questions that connect to a broader network of creative inquiry that evokes curiosity and contemplation.
MAY 2-14
BA / BFA STUDIO ART CAPSTONE EXHIBITION
Reception: MAY 6, 4:30-5:30 P.M.
Department of Art senior studio majors participating in the semester long Capstone course feature their latest visual investigations in ceramics, printmaking, painting, metals and jewelry, photography, sculpture and digital media.
GALLERY HOURS: MON-FRI, 9 A.M.-4:30 P.M.
Hours may vary with restrictions; other hours available by appointment (513) 529-1883
ALL RECEPTIONS ARE IN THE LOBBY OF HIESTAND GALLERIES | GALLERIES LOCATED ON LEVEL 1.
ROBERT E. AND MARTHA HULL LEE GALLERY
JAN 30- MAR 14
EMILY BARTOLONE: LIFE TOGETHER
Artist Talk: FEB 6, 1:15 P.M. (Art Museum)
Reception: FEB 7, 4:30-5:30 P.M.
We welcome back our 2024 Young Painters Yeck Awardee, Emily Bartolone, with her exhibition, Life Together. Stemming from her infatuation with the formal elements of painting, the work in this exhibition pairs down simple, anthropomorphized shapes in an effort to explore paint and color theory while simultaneously creating tension and humor through color, edges, and texture. The playful, human qualities of painting are incorporated into the work through the use of amorphous shapes animated within the picture plane. The introduction of curved shapes allows for a push back against the bravado of minimalism and geometric abstraction she has experienced as a female artist in those fields, adding feelings of tension that mimic her own in relation to those ideas.
APR 9-21
RYAN E. KERR: MFA THESIS EXHIBITION
Reception: APR 10, 3:30–5:30 P.M.
Ryan E. Kerr works through a process of perceptual easel painting, primarily landscapes. The temporal act of looking, translated through paint, leads to marks that are unique and specific. Painting can be a mnemonic device for memory-mining, record keeping, and wish-making where the painted image condenses past, present, and future. It is from this condensed space that the work arises.
GALLERIES
MAY 2- 14 | BFA COMMUNICATION DESIGN CAPSTONE EXHIBITION
Reception: MAY 6, 4:30–5:30 P.M.
The 2025 BFA in Communication Design exhibition showcases the unique practices of the graduating class of communication designers as they utilize research-based strategy to find opportunities to apply communication design to a wide range of topic areas. From innovative branding campaigns to immersive user experiences, the exhibition reflects the class of 2025’s mastery of design principles and processes and their ability to communicate effectively in the dynamic landscape of visual communication.
JANUARY
JAN 30-MAR 14
Emily Bartolone | Life Together Hiestand
JAN 31-MAR 14
2025 Miami University Young Painters Competition for the $10,000 William and Dorothy Yeck Award Hiestand
JAN 28-JUN 7
From the Collection; Tooling Around with Jim Dine; Art & Exchange: African Textiles in the Global Marketplace Art Museum
JAN 28-JUN 7
Art History at Glance; Global Perspectives; The Charles M. Messer Leica Camera Collection Art Museum
FEBRUARY
FEB 1-28
Elise McWilliams | exhibition Art Building Lobby
FEB 6 | 5:50 P.M.
Young Painters Juror Talk Alexis Rockman Art 100
FEB 6 | 1:15 P.M.
Artist Talk | Emily Bartolone Life Together Art Museum
FEB 7 | 4:30-5:30 P.M.
Young Painters Competition Reception & Emily Bartolone: Life Together Exhibition Reception Hiestand
FEB 19 | 12 P.M.
Spotlight Tour: Ferdinand Bol, Woman at a Window painting with Jason Shaiman Art Museum
FEB 20 | 5:50 P.M.
Seth Green | The Road Not Taken Art 100
FEB 27 | 5:50 P.M.
Kate Carlier Currie | Taking Over the World with Art Art 100
MARCH
MAR 1-16
Visual Arts Club exhibition Art Building Lobby
MAR 12 | 5-8 P.M.
Exhibition Reception & Program (5:30 P.M.) Capstone Student Gallery Talks | Art & Exchange: African Textiles in the Global Market Art Museum
MAR 13 | 5:50 P.M.
Denise Burge | The Glamour of Place Art 100
MAR 16-APR 12
Ron Stevens exhibition Art Building Lobby
MAR 19 | 10 A.M.
African Textiles and Western Appropriation webinar with the Alumni Association. Dr. Jordan Fenton and Elaine Yuen Virtual
MAR 19 | 12 P.M.
Spotlight Tour: African Textiles with Capstone students Alexis Mramor and Annabel DeChant Art Museum
APRIL
APR 3 | 3-4:30 P.M.
Mireille Lee: Making a Spectacle of Oneself: Reflections on Mirrors and Dress in Classical Antiquity Art Museum
APR 7 | 6 P.M.
Dr. Marilyn Stewart, John and Betty Michael Distinguished Autobiographical Lecture in Art Education Art Museum
APR 9 | 5-8 P.M.
Exhibition Reception and Program (5:30 P.M.) Tracy Featherstone and Annie Dell 'Aria: Tools and the Everyday in Pop Art and the Work of Jim Dine Art Museum
APR 9-21
Kelley Booze & Ryan E. Kerr | MFA Thesis Exhibitions Heistand
APR 10 | 3:30–5:30 P.M.
Kelley Booze & Ryan E. Kerr | MFA Thesis Receptions Hiestand
APR 10 | 5:50 P.M.
Matt Coors | I Built a Chicken Coop Art 100
APR 14-26
Saturday Art exhibition Art Building Lobby
APR 16 | 12 P.M.
Spotlight Tour: Tool Box 1 by Jim Dine with Jason Shaiman Art Museum
APR 24 | 5:50 P.M.
Hannah Parrett | Facade, Prop, Backdrop
Art 100
APR 27-MAY 11
Effusions exhibition
Art Building Lobby
MAY
MAY 2-14
BA / BFA Studio Art & BFA
Communication Design Capstone Exhibitions
Hiestand
MAY 3 | 1-6 P.M.
Electric Root Festival
Uptown Oxford
MAY 6 | 4:30-5:30 P.M.
BA / BFA Studio Art & BFA
Communication Design Capstone Exhibition Reception Hiestand
MAY 12-SEP 1
Scott Kissell exhibition
Art Building Lobby
MAY 14 | 5-8 P.M.
Community & Friends of the Museum Open House & Reception
Art Museum
MAY 21 | 12 P.M.
Spotlight Tour: Amarna Column Fragments, reign of Akhenaten with Jack Green
Art Museum
JUNE
JUN 7 | 12-5 P.M.
Exhibitions Final Day
Closing Reception and Open House
Art Museum
For more information and a full list of College of Creative Arts events visit: MiamiOH.edu/ cca/events
ART MUSEUM PROGRAM SERIES
MUSIC AT THE MUSEUM
Join student musicians in an informal afternoon of music in the galleries. In partnership with the Department of Music at Miami.
1-2 P.M. Third Saturdays
FEB 15 | MAR 15 | APR 19
DROP-IN TOUR & EXPLORE
Tour and Explore and learn about the artworks on exhibit! Join one of our Volunteer Docent tours of current and ongoing exhibitions.
2-4 P.M. Third Saturdays FEB 15 | MAR 15 | APR 19 | MAY 17
ART EXPLORERS (Ages 3-7)
Join us for story time & an art activity - register at www.lanepl.org
2-3:30 P.M. Saturdays MAR 8 | APR 12 | MAY 10
SECOND WEDNESDAYS
Our galleries are open late every second Wednesday until 8 P.M. See program calendar for events.
5-8 P.M. Second Wednesdays FEB 12 | MAR 12 | APR 9 | MAY 14
SPOTLIGHT TOURS
Join us for a brief tour led by Art Museum team members focused on several works now on view, 12-12:30 P.M. Wednesdays FEB 19 | MAR 19 | APR 16 | MAY 21
MUSEUM AND GALLERY INFO
RICHARD AND CAROLE COCKS ART MUSEUM
801 S. Patterson Ave., Oxford, OH 45056 (513) 529-2232
ArtMuseum@MiamiOH.edu MiamiOH.edu/ArtMuseum
Gallery hours:
Tuesday–Friday: 10 A.M.–5 P.M. Saturday: Noon-5 P.M.
Second Wednesdays: 10 A.M.-8 P.M.
MCGUFFEY HOUSE AND MUSEUM
401 E. Spring St., Oxford, OH 45056 (513) 529-8380
McGuffeyMuseum@MiamiOH.edu MiamiOH.edu/McGuffey-Museum Museum hours: Thursday–Saturday: 1–5 P.M.
CAGE GALLERY
101 Alumni Hall, Oxford, OH 45056 (513) 529-7210
archid@MiamiOH.edu Arts.MiamiOH.edu/architectureinterior-design
HIESTAND GALLERIES
401 Maple St., Oxford, OH 45056 (513) 529-1883
sfagallery@MiamiOH.edu MiamiOH.edu/HiestandGalleries
Gallery hours: Mon-Fri, 9 A.M.-4:30 P.M.
ART BUILDING (LOBBY GALLERY & ART 100)
400 S. Patterson Ave., Oxford, OH 45056
MORE MUSEUMS AND COLLECTIONS
For more Museums and Collections on campus check out tinyurl.com/MuseumsMiami
MCGUFFEY MUSEUM HIESTAND GALLERIES
ART BUILDING
AND
CAGE GALLERY IN ALUMNI HALL
RICHARD
CAROLE COCKS ART MUSEUM