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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 28, 1989)
Monday, August 28,1989 The Battalion Page 3D more likely on deal he lie’s been as! J artoons soutf” can see the IVorks of art find a home at A&M The Forsyth Center: Where it’s headed and why campus needs it ional stuff Jay Keith Spera McCullarS Needs coaches for youth teams, ages 5-18. For more Info: Call Ed Nelson 774-4262, after 6 p.m. eople stud (et them to p lien I’vedoBtl THAT HU, UKVIYEM PLETELfJ ^KLP.j I mayors u Qf The Battalion Staff te rested in.l(l.| f •in local coi« Nestled in the southwest corner of s much attei*B e Memorial Student Center, for all le and ridy|H e world to see, are some of the pre- viII notice Igier works of art of the last 150 ullar see asm| Selected objects from the Bill and Irma Runyon Art Collections, an ex- ■nsive cross-section of turn-of-the- Jntury American paintings and nineteenth century art glass, are cur rently on display in the MSC Forsyth Center Galleries. I Included in the collection, and ei- f titter on display now or scheduled to displayed sometime in the future, ■e 64 paintings by renowned artists ch as Frederic Remington, Charles . Russell, Robert Henri, Winslow omer and Anna Mary Robertson randma” Moses. Also in the Runyon Collections e approximately 800 objects of art ass, including a specialized collec- n of 140 pieces of English cameo ass that features several works by emier artist George Woodall. The unyon Collection of English cameo ass is widely regarded to be one of e best in the nation. Bill Runyon, Class of ’35, has Railed various parts of the collec- lon, which he and his wife Irma ac cumulated over a period of 30 years, air display in the MSC. I Sometime in the future, the entire Ulection will be turned over to the ■ exas A&M University Devel- Ipment Foundation Trust Com- lany, a private, non-profit corpora- lon that functions to raise resources |br A&M. I As part of the three-party Igreement (between Runyon, the )KM,0ttt glSC and the Development Founda- A/VP AtS'iBon) that turns over the rights to the 10R£ GMMBrt to the Development Foundation, {he Memorial Student Center {greed to place the art on perma nent display in the MSC, said MSC irector Jim Reynolds. “The artwork was given to the Irust company to be displayed per- lanently in the MSC,” Reynolds id. “The University accepted that premise, that it would be displayed lermanently in the MSC, but own- rship is really in the Development foundation.” { In the trust document signed be- ween the three parties, a committee |f A&M officials (including the MSC resident) was created to oversee the dSC’s management of the collec- ion. “The committee wtas established o function on behalf of the trust ompany to insure that the MSC nanages the collection in accord- nce with Mr. Runyon’s dictates,” Reynolds said. To provide a suitable home for he Runyon Collection, the space hat was formerly the location of the ssociation of Former Students has ieen renovated and renamed the PSC Forsyth Center Galleries. Approximately $260,000 will ulti- ately be spent on preparing the vr/fM vm ! , 6MFTIM mrsml ± I ALL LIVE A TELEVISA T\... A VI5KW M... 4 y'lSIO/J Needs Referees experience necessary, training provided For more Info: Call Diana De Francesco 775-7126, after 6 p.m. Pay based on number of games refereed. laZer magic Photo Reprints 8 1 /2X11-$2.19 Difficult Reproductions Welcome 10% Discount with TAMU I.D. Post Oak Mall-Sears Court 764-7438 LEATHER BACKPACKS These handmade leather backpacks are large and roomy and can carry anything from books to overnight essentials. Durable and el egant, leather backpacks come in a variety of colors and can be dressed up with silver tips and buckles. Customize yours with your name, sorority/fraternity or club insignia. The basic backpack is $100, customizing is extra. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Originals 696-5558 “Modem Comanche” by Frederic Remington i TUEP. gallery for the Runyon Collection, according to Reynolds. This figure, which could increase slightly, is more than the originally-projected renovation cost, Reynolds said. “The problem was that Mr. Ru nyon’s art had not been appraised,” he said. “When we started into this, we thought there was a certain value of artwork there and now we have discovered the value is . . . (much greater). iO-6:30 r Forsyth Center file photo Untitled etched vase by George Woodall “For example, we thought we could get a security system in there for around $20,000, and we ended up spending closer to $50,000 on it. When we started the project, we honestly didn’t know what that art work was worth. The whole thing has been an evolutionary process. “We knew going in that there were probably going to be some revi sions as we went along, but we didn’t realize how many revisions.” Reynolds said that the money used to prepare the gallery came from both within the University and from outside sources. “There is $100,000 that the Uni versity made through auxiliary sources, and the rest of the money has come from private contribu tions,” he said. This money has been used to es tablish what is both a home for the Runyon Collections and a cor nerstone on which to build Texas A&M’s art holdings. Joe R. Arredondo Jr., curator of the Bill and Irma Runyon Art Col lections, said the primary driving force in the exhibition program of the Forsyth Galleries will be dealing with the themes of the Runyon Col lections. Arredondo also said Runyon (who was unavailable for comment due to medical reasons) hopes that by do nating his collection, others who col lect art of the same period will be persuaded to donate their collec tions, making A&M’s art collection more complete. “In the major painting traditions represented, there are gaps,” Arre dondo said. “For example, we have the people who essentially started off American Impressionism — F. Childe Hassam and John Henry Twachtman — but we’re missing a J. Alden Weir; Mr. Runyon never bought a J. Alden Weir.” (Weir was one of the three Ameri can artists who broke away from the society of American artists in 1898 to start their own exhibition, heralding the emergence of American Impres sionism.) Reynolds said that several collec tors have already expressed interest in donating art to Texas A&M, and that the MSC hopes to attract more donors with the “Grand Opening ADVERTISING INDEX STUDENT LIFE SECTION D bargain Furniture Center .. .2D lie Corporation 4D Jill’s Barber Shop 9D Iryan Soccer Club 3D Chase Education ID Cobbie Shop 9D Council Travel Services 4D Domino s HD Goodwill 3D Jay’s Gym 4D Kaplan 9D L.A.S.S.O 3D Lazer Magic 3D Loupot’s 5D Nita’s Flowers 5D Polzin, Robin 3D Quick As A Flash 10D Supercuts 10D Texas A&M Bookstore ... .6&7D Twin City Honda 9D Valley Cyclery 12D Victor’s Just Boots 2D Video Yearbook 8D Wickes Lumber 9D Ceremonies” scheduled for Septem ber. “With the ceremonies, we hope to bring people in from all over the state of Texas who are into the art scene,” Reynolds said. “They’ll say, ‘Golly, we didn’t know A&M had anything like that. If they not only have that quality of art but know how to take care of it and have places to exhibit it, we’d like for our art to come here, too.’ “And of course we know r that there are lots of former students out there who have magnificent art col lections. Hopefully, some of those will be as generous as Mr. Runyon has been in wanting that art to come and be part of the day-to-day envi ronment of students at Texas A&M.” Arredondo said that in the future, the Forsyth Center Galleries will continue to develop its 19th and early 20th century American paint ing collection. At the moment, the gallery does not have the funds needed to make purchases in this area, but that doesn’t mean this money won’t be available in the future, Arredondo said. “There is not an acquisition fund available, but coming from Mr. Ru nyon, with the collection, is suffi cient money to run the operation,” Arredondo said. This endowment is earmarked to cover costs related specifically to the Runyon collection, such as the costs of programs and lectures about the collection’s artwork, curators to look after the artwork and insurance costs. During the past few months, seve ral temporary displays have been ex hibited in the Forsyth Center Galle ries. These displays have included collections of large-scale, hand- tinted photographs by Casey Wil liams and etchings by Francisco Goya. The number and nature of these temporary displays will change in the next few years, predicted Arre dondo. “We’ve been bringing in non-re- lated materials (displays not related to the Runyon collection) because we’ve had the space available,” Arre dondo said. “At some time, when theentire collection comes here, we will have to regroup. There will have to be a lot more (art) glass on display, there will have to be much more painting on display. My guess is that we will reduce the amount of tempo rary exhibition space significantly.” Besides a reduction in space avail able for temporary exhibits, Arre dondo also said that the temporary See Art/Page 4 goodwill Goodwill Is Glad To Welcome Back The Aggies! Bargains Galore Furniture, Electrical And Kitchen Wares Townshire Shopping Center 1913 S. Texas Ave. 822-9167 [MESS® The Lady Aggies Need You! The Lady Aggies Student Support Orga- nization is dedicated to increasing stu- A 1 J dent awareness about Texas A&M women's athletics by supporting and promoting Lady Aggie Events on campus. With your help and support, the Lady Aggies will no longer be the best kept secret on campus! MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS: • Monthly newsletter detailing TAMU women's events (TIME-OUT) • L.A.S.S.O. T-shirt •Membership card • Special seating in G. 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