Director Notes from Annabelle Gould

This summer I stepped into the role of Director for the School of Art + Art History + Design. After more than 20 years of teaching Visual Communication Design on the second floor, I shifted offices to the first. My previous “home” faced Stevens Way where the noises were minimal, save the delightful rustle of the oak tree next to the window, the less enjoyable engines revving, and the oddly regular ringing of incoming calls from the pay phone turned art project below. (Years ago I managed to answer one of those calls — it was for a dining hall elsewhere on campus.)

The Director's office faces the quad so I now have a front-row seat to the sounds of a busy campus: the cheering/screaming of sorority rush, snippets of conversations as students head to and from class, the murmur of groups in the quad hoping to catch a little Vitamin D before the fall rain arrives, and the infrequent megaphone signifying a larger gathering. I can’t say all these sounds have made me more productive but they do serve as a daily reminder of why we are here. UW is back in session and 2100+ students are coming through the School of Art + Art History + Design, ready to learn and contribute to the life of the School. For many of these students, our classes are a creative oasis for learning and stretching their thinking and making skills.

A lot is happening in the School right now. We are thrilled to welcome Natalia Arbelaez, Assistant Professor in Ceramics to the 3D4M program. Thanks to a special gift from Ray Graham, the Division of Art is busy planning workshops, lectures, and trips to benefit their MFA and undergraduate majors. We are running three tenure track faculty searches in Art History, Photo/Media, and Painting + Drawing + Printmaking.

We also take time to remember the truly extraordinary Anne Traver, our longtime friend, supporter, and alum of the Division of Design, who passed away last month. A celebration of her wonderful life will take place today, Thursday, October 17 at the Seattle Asian Art Museum.

I am grateful to Art History Professor Stuart Lingo for serving as Associate Director this year. His role is focused on alumni relations and (re) connecting with friends and supporters of the School. We hope to catch up with many of you at one of our upcoming events throughout the year. While there is much work to be done, we are energized and ready for the year ahead.

Annabelle Gould
Director of the School of Art + Art History + Design
Professor, Visual Communication Design
Wyckoff Milliman Endowed Chair in Art

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