Topic: College of Fine Arts
September 14, 2018
Fine Arts Building, Ball State University, circa 1932, 1936, 2018
The David Owsley Museum of Art (DOMA) will present “The Power of Place: 100 Years of Architecture at Ball State University,” an exhibition organized in partnership with the Ball State University Libraries Drawings and Documents Archives and the College of Architecture and Planning.
The exhibition will be on view at DOMA from September 27 through December 21, 2018, and will examine three key buildings for the teaching of the arts and architecture: the Frank A. Bracken Administration Building (1899), the Fine Arts Building (1935), and the College of Architecture and Planning (1972).
“The production of this exhibition wouldn’t have been possible without the collaboration of various departments within the University Libraries and the College of Architecture and Planning,” says Rebecca Torsell, archivist for architectural records at Ball State University, who organized the exhibition. “The exhibition embodies the idea that even though Ball State’s built environment has greatly changed over time by way of adding new buildings constructed with modern materials, our past is forever present.”
“The museum is an ideal place to celebrate the University’s Centennial,” adds Robert G. La France, director of the David Owsley Museum of Art. “For more than 80 years the museum’s building — the Fine Arts Building — has stood as Ball State’s palace to the arts. This show displays the University’s long-standing commitment to distinctive architecture and introduces visitors to its vast architectural archives and special collections.”
Ball State’s Centennial anniversary brings to light the power of place in shaping the University environment and the student experience. This exhibition illustrates the University’s architectural transformation, and its impact on the campus and community.
Public Program Highlights
Upcoming public programs related to this exhibit include:
- September 28, 6-9 p.m.: Final Friday—a free program with refreshments, demonstrations, and PechaKucha talks. The September 28 event is the opening event for DOMA’s fall exhibitions, including “The Power of Place: 100 Years of Architecture at Ball State University.”
- November 3, 2:30 p.m.: Free, docent-led tour of “The Power of Place: 100 Years of Architecture at Ball State University.”
Exhibition Support
Major support provided by the Ball State University College of Architecture and Planning and University Libraries.
We will have activities and events throughout the academic year to celebrate 100 years of Beneficence: Proud Past. Bright Future. Learn more.