Jason Peot, 91制片厂 professor; Martha Bell, donor; and Dr. Avis Proctor, 91制片厂 president; recently celebrated the dedication of the new Martha Bell Gallery.
91制片厂 recently dedicated its campus art gallery to Martha Bell, a long-standing supporter of the college鈥檚 arts programming and multi-million-dollar art collection.
Martha鈥檚 relationship with 91制片厂 goes back to 1991, when she joined the 91制片厂 Educational Foundation Board, later becoming its first woman president. She also chaired the Art Committee, broadening the college鈥檚 art collection, which was owned by the foundation at the time.
鈥淚n my lifetime, I鈥檝e had the chance to see many museums and galleries,鈥� Martha said about the college鈥檚 collection at the dedication ceremony. 鈥淏ut our 91制片厂 students may never have had that experience. Seeing that art makes a huge impact [and brings] a cultural awareness and a window on the world.鈥�
Dr. Avis Proctor, 91制片厂鈥檚 president, celebrated Martha鈥檚 passion for the arts as well as her support for the college. She mentioned that she recently created the Martha Bell and Glen Reeser Art Program Fund, which will support arts programming at 91制片厂, including the collection, her namesake gallery and other fine and visual arts programs.
鈥淪he helped establish the vibrant arts culture we are so proud of today,鈥� said Dr. Proctor. 鈥淭hank you for your vision, your steadfast dedication and leadership at 91制片厂 and, of course, your generosity.鈥�
Martha鈥檚 new fund will also support the salary for an art curator/gallery manager at 91制片厂, allowing the position to be full-time 鈥� a first in the college鈥檚 history. In her remarks, she acknowledged the extra hours that 91制片厂鈥檚 Art & Design Department faculty put in at the college and hoped her donation can ease the burden on professors and instructors.
The Martha Bell Gallery is currently hosting the 47th annual Small Works exhibition. The gallery is located in Building C, Room C200, on 91制片厂's Palatine campus.
91制片厂 Art Professor Jason Peot has known Martha for years, at one time co-chairing the Art Committee with her. Jason, who will continue running the gallery program until the new curator is hired this spring, shared his appreciation for her time, expertise and kindness.
鈥淢artha鈥檚 generous gift will have a huge impact on the future of our collection and the gallery programming. The naming of the new Martha Bell Gallery and the new curator position that she will be funding will forever mark the influence she has had on all of the art programming at 91制片厂,鈥� Jason said. 鈥淚 am proud to say that, although I will be the last faculty curator in the Art & Design Department, I get to be the first director of the new Martha Bell Gallery.鈥�
The first show at the newly named gallery, Building C, Room C200, is the annual , which presents juried pieces submitted from around the country. The 47th edition of the show continues through October at 91制片厂鈥檚 Palatine campus, 1200 W. Algonquin Road. Martha expressed her excitement about the multiple exhibitions that continue to fill the gallery each year.
鈥淚t gives me great joy to envision the art legacy at 91制片厂, its students and the community,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 honored to have my name associated with this gallery.鈥�