“ The Collection will eventually evolve into new forms as the world and the arts change . But we need to increase the endowment so its mission can keep going .”
Mary Beebe
Triton ’ s First Foldout !
Perfect for your office , fridge , or a frame . Or let it map your way around campus ( Visit TRITONMAG . COM / STUART for GPS pinpoints ). Show us how you use it on social media ! # StuartCollection
Map by Matthew Hincman , M . F . A . ’ 01
In the meantime a wealthy woman in Dallas tried to seize on the controversy and steal the project away , but the newly built Charles Lee Powell Structural Systems Laboratory proved to be the perfect location on the interior of the campus , where no neighbors might be tempted to sin .
The challenge with John Baldessari ’ s READ / WRITE / THINK / DREAM was neither logistic nor controversial , but rather in convincing the artist to contribute when he did not consider himself a sculptor . After much encouragement from Beebe , Baldessari initially thought of doing a piece involving big bronze doors but couldn ’ t find a suitable location on campus . Then he considered Geisel Library ’ s sliding doors — perhaps the most used doors on campus — and decided to go with images on glass . The doors ’ primary colors playfully change as they slide over each other , and are complemented by photos of students and books chosen by Geisel librarians . The title is taken from words that Baldessari used as a professor at UC San Diego , UCLA and CalArts — he had rubber stamps to impress the four words upon students ’ papers .
Though thousands of students pass through these doors each week , most may not realize they ’ re interacting with art . Other works like Richard Fleischner ’ s La Jolla Project and William Wegman ’ s La Jolla Vista View are sites that people actively seek out for events ranging from weddings to memorials and fairs . Although that was not part of the Collection ’ s original goals , it pleases Beebe to have people engage with the art in their own ways .
While these two installations have changed little over the years , Gregoire points to Nam June Paik ’ s Something Pacific as one of the works designed to transform over time .
“ Nam June Paik wanted one part of this piece to be a live work . At some point all technology becomes obsolete , so he said that whatever new technology exists in 25 years , he wanted the students to be able to adapt and move the piece forward . Over the last year we worked with two classes in the electrical and computer engineering department to make that happen — the synthesizer [ once an indoor wall of television screens ] has been completely reinvented as a digital machine . The other aspect of this work is outdoor , where the Buddhas watch a very slow motion television show as their TVs decay and the grass grows up through them . So it lives into the future .”
Beebe is excited for the Stuart Collection itself to live into the future as well , yet she recognizes the support it takes to ensure that . “ The Collection will eventually evolve into new forms as the world and the arts change ,” she says . “ But we need to increase the endowment so its mission can keep going .”
In the meantime , Beebe continues to lead the Stuart Collection and expand the creative , thoughtful fixtures that have become so much a part of the campus it ’ s almost too easy for students and the public to take them for granted . Yet as with all art , however , it is ultimately up to the viewer to make sure that doesn ’ t happen .
GET INVOLVED WITH THE STUART COLLECTION The Stuart Collection at UC San Diego offers many ways to engage with the art and artistic community reflected in this feature . From becoming a member of the Friends of the Stuart Collection to supporting the endowment to volunteering as a docent inside Fallen Star , you can be a part of the inexplicable magic the Stuart Collection makes possible .
To learn more , visit STUARTCOLLECTION . UCSD . EDU
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