Preserving art with understanding exhibit

On Friday, Dec. 2, the Pool Arts Center Gallery presented "Preserving Art with Understanding: Art Historical Research and Conservation Training," an exhibit that illustrated the importance of combining the conservation of art and artifacts with art historical research, for better understanding of the object and how it should be conserved.

The exhibit began with a reception on the first Friday in December as part of Springfield's First Friday Artwalk.

Missouri State Art History majors Rebecca Steiner and Katie McElfresh, Ashley Sayers, BA Art History 2011, and Samantha Bean, BFA 2011 with a minor in Art History, gave presentations on their research and conservation of selected figures.

Sculptures featured in the exhibit were conserved by students of Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts, a new and innovative advanced Art History course taught by Dr. Billie Follensbee at Missouri State University.

The course starts with a holistic view of what is involved in ethical, responsible conservation of art and artifacts, integrating citizenship and service learning.

Students go above and beyond standard expectations of a course to provide a real service to community partners and community through their studies and research.

The course results in educational exhibits on the sculptures, the cultures, and conservation for the universities and the local communities.

Drury President Dr. Todd Parnell and his wife Betty lent several pieces to Dr. Follensbee's class for students to research and restore. Some of their pieces were also displayed in the exhibit.

Although the couple don't consider themselves serious collectors, they are intrigued and inspired by what artists around the world create.

"Our pieces come from my traveling in Africa in the mid ‘70s. Some were wood carvings from West Africa and a wool rug from Royal Weavers of Lesotho," Dr. Parnell states.

Many other pieces on display belong to Drury as part of a generous donation from the Stoneman family.

Harold Stoneman graduated from Drury in 1933, his wife in 1928.

According to a 1974 article in the Springfield News-Leader by Ed Albin, then Head of the Art Department at SMS (now MSU), the "Stonemans lived in the Gold Coast area of Africa for seven years while he was an executive for the Exxon Oil Company. During these years they became interested in the arts of the area and began the collection, which now numbers approximately 100 pieces."

"Seeing and studying art is a fun way for everyone to learn and appreciate intriguing cultures," says Follensbee.

Pool Art Center Gallery director and Art/Art History and Communication professor Greg Booker adds that the PAC Gallery is just one of many on-campus venues that provides students an opportunity for such creative exploration.

There is a new exhibit on the first Friday of each month during the school year with the exception of January.

The current exhibit runs through Monday, Jan. 30.