Year: 2016

Ellsworth Kelly (1923-2015): American abstract artist

Learning of the death of Ellsworth Kelly reminded me of the first time I viewed one of his works. The occasion was the Metropolitan Museum’s centennial exhibition, ‘New York Painting and Sculpture: 1940–1970’, curated by Henry Geldzahler when he was but 33 years old. The exhibition displayed 408 works by 43 artists whom Geldzahler identified…Continue Reading Ellsworth Kelly (1923-2015): American abstract artist

Pictorial: Meadows singers learn from masters Jake Heggie, Joyce DiDonato, and Frederica von Stade

  On November 3, Mezzo sopranos Joyce DiDonato and Frederica von Stade and composer Jake Heggie took time between performances of Heggie’s opera Great Scott to give a master class for singers in the Division of Music in the Meadows School of the Arts. Five students performed art songs and opera arias for the artists…Continue Reading Pictorial: Meadows singers learn from masters Jake Heggie, Joyce DiDonato, and Frederica von Stade

Collection Spotlight: Octavio Medellin Art Work and Papers

Medellin portrait

Octavio Medellin was an artist and teacher who was active in Texas from the 1920s until his death in 1999. He is primarily known as a sculptor but also did work in ceramics, glass, and mosaics. Born in Mexico, Medellin was heavily motivated by pre-Columbian art, mainly of Mayan origin, and he is associated with…Continue Reading Collection Spotlight: Octavio Medellin Art Work and Papers

Some assembly required: Interview with artist Ryan Goolsby

Hamon’s newest update to its lobby is a pair of customized computer kiosks that were designed and built by Meadows staff member, Ryan Goolsby. We interviewed Ryan about his position at SMU, his work as an artist, and the process for creating these kiosks….Continue Reading Some assembly required: Interview with artist Ryan Goolsby

Pierre Boulez (1925-2016): A personal remembrance

Composer and conductor Pierre Boulez, one of the most influential musical figures of the second half of the twentieth century, passed away on Tuesday, January 5. Since then, multiple news organizations have published lengthy assessments of Boulez and the manner in which he shaped and challenged notions of established concert repertoire as a stalwart advocate…Continue Reading Pierre Boulez (1925-2016): A personal remembrance

CUL Digital Collections Update: December 2015

In December 2015, SMU’s Central University Libraries uploaded 465 items into CUL Digital Collections. CUL now has approximately 50,647 published items. Highlights include: 121 items from the George W. Cook Dallas/Texas Image Collection as part of the Texas Treasures FY2016 grant program, sponsored by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and funded by the…Continue Reading CUL Digital Collections Update: December 2015