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Opening Held for Mary Tinnin Jaye Gallery
(Posted: February 26, 2008) (Printable Version)
The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith made its formal entry Feb. 26 toward becoming the center of visual arts in Western Arkansas with the opening and introduction of the Mary Tinnin Jaye Gallery, located in Fullerton Administration Building at UA Fort Smith.
Chancellor Paul B. Beran said the 30 pieces on display represent a long-term goal for UA Fort Smith to directly impact the area’s “quality of place,” a term used in recent economic development assessments and recommendations for the region.
The open house for the recently renovated building and the establishment of the gallery was hosted by the Chancellor’s Coalition for the Visual Arts, headed by UA Fort Smith First Lady Janice Beran. The event allowed invited guests an opportunity to view the art on display and meet Mary Tinnin Jaye, 95, of Fort Smith. The gallery was given Jaye’s name because of her support for the university, which includes Jaye’s donation of three pieces for the collection, her prior establishment of an endowed scholarship fund and her generosity over the years. Jaye, a retired schoolteacher who took a class at UA Fort Smith two years ago, comes from a family of educators.
The collection in Fullerton includes works done in oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel, ceramic, colored pencil, graphite, charcoal and ink, as well as digital prints and photographs. Some were given to the university from private collections. Others were purchased or are on loan.
Dr. Beran said providing students at UA Fort Smith an opportunity to see and appreciate fine art is important to their education.
“Embracing and promoting the visual arts expands our students’ education and perspective of the world,” he said. “Really seeing art requires our students to push themselves, to step out of their comfort zones, to be willing to experience perspectives — both intellectual and emotional — that they likely have not experienced before.”
Dr. Beran said the art in Fullerton is there not only as the focus of personal enjoyment and edification, but “to serve as models for the process of creating art.” He said he wanted UA Fort Smith students to learn about art, be inspired to create their own art, and have models of excellence for their work.
As part of his remarks, Dr. Beran introduced Susie Fullerton Smith, daughter of Tom Fullerton. The Fullerton building was originally a student union facility and named for Fullerton for his service in dean positions at the institution from 1953 to 1965.
“It seems appropriate that those of us in administration should be housed in a building where students once ate, visited, met their future spouses, studied, played, and planned the rest of their lives,” Dr. Beran said.
Dr. B. Alan Sugg, president of the University of Arkansas System, spoke briefly, lauding the enthusiasm and can-do spirit of the administration, staff and faculty at UA Fort Smith and of the community.
“This is a wonderful community and a great university,” Dr. Sugg said. “I really think it is one of the bright spots in Arkansas higher education.”
Dr. Sugg showed appreciation to Mrs. Jaye as well.
“Mrs. Jaye, we thank you for your commitment and your contributions to the arts,” Dr. Sugg said. “Thank you for allowing us to use your well-respected, well appreciated name with the Jaye Gallery.”
Sugg also praised the new use of the Fullerton facility.
“It’s wonderful that the home of the administration is attributed to a person who really helped students,” he said. “We need to do everything we can do as university administrators to help students be successful.”
Marta Loyd, vice chancellor for university advancement, explained to those attending the opening how the building came to house an art gallery bearing Jaye’s name.
“Several years ago, Mary began discussing the prospect of gifting her John Marin and Arthur Dove paintings to UA Fort Smith,” Loyd said. “She wanted us to have them so our students could enjoy and appreciate them, but she also wanted them to hang in the company of other fine art. Now, Mary’s dream has come true, and her paintings will reside in the Mary Tinnin Jaye Gallery surrounded by numerous quality works of art.”
Loyd thanked Jaye for trusting UA Fort Smith with the artwork.
“We will take good care of them and make certain they are enjoyed by multitudes of students in the years ahead,” Loyd said.
Jaye grew up in Maysville, Ark., which is located at the northwest tip of the state where Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma come together. She attended high school in Gravette and college in Parkville, Mo., the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and Columbia University in New York. Her first teaching job was in Twelve Corners, Ark., near Pea Ridge. During her 43 years of teaching, she held positions in Sulphur Springs, Rogers and Augusta, Ark., Bixby, Okla.; Ferguson, Mo.; Ardmore, Pa.; and South Orange, N.J. After she retired, she and husband Manny relocated to Arkansas in 1997. He died in 2004.
Loyd also announced the naming of a second gallery at UA Fort Smith, the Boreham Gallery on the second floor of the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center. The gallery is named in honor and memory of Sally McSpadden Boreham, who funded several scholarships and gave UA Fort Smith four original John Bell paintings. Those now hang in the Campus Center. A separate dedication ceremony of that space will be held at a later date.
Also recognized during the Mary Tinnin Jaye Gallery opening were the Coalition’s steering and advisory committees.
In addition to Janice Beran, the Coalition steering committee includes UA Fort Smith staff members Travis Brown, Laurie Dernick, Stacey Jones, Don Lee, Linda Myers and Dr. Henry Rinne. Chancellor Beran serves as an ex-officio member along with Marta Loyd and Dr. Ray Wallace, provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs.
The Coalition’s advisory committee is comprised of members of the community, university staff and students. On the committee are Lin Chen, Lady Jane Cohen, David Craig, Carl Cummings, Ann Dawson, Dr. Jill Guerra, Marta Jones, Katie Kidwell, Kate Maurras, Dr. Elizabeth Momand, Rosario Nolasco-Bell, Jeanne Parham, Pam Pearce, Sherron Shuffield, Dr. James Snider, Lynn Snider and Peggy Weidman.
| Article by: Sondra LaMar, Director of Public Relations | |
| Photo(s) by: Jamie Mitchell of Jamie Mitchell Photography |
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