For students who avoid art like the plague, the excuse of not wanting to shell out T fare to the MFA just doesn't cut it - Tufts has its own bona fide, if little-known, art gallery right on campus.
Nestled in the back of Aidekman Arts Center behind the Balch Arena Theater, the Gallery has been in existence since the mid-1970s. It is now home to two major exhibits per year, as well as 20 to 30 displays of MFA theses presented by students of the Tufts-Museum School joint program.
According to Director Susan Masuoka, the Gallery has gained increasing popularity among members of the University, and aims to make art more accessible to the students. She believes that the Gallery helps students to relate to art more easily.
"Many students tell me that they're even intimidated to go into galleries," Masuoka said. "[The Gallery] makes Tufts students more comfortable with art, looking at art, and everything that entails."
According to Exhibition Designer and Permanent Collection Manager Doug Bell, an exhibition opening can usually draw around 300 people. Speakers and special events draw many guests as well.
However, "students could always take more advantage," Masuoka said.
Currently, the Gallery attracts mostly Art History majors and graduate students. Dozens of students come as part of their Masters in Fine Arts program, or at the behest of their professors - several art and art history professors incorporate exhibition visits into class assignments. Students may write papers on paintings or see a question on their final that refers to a Gallery exhibit.
Masuoka tries to present a range of mediums and subjects that will appeal to a variety of students.
"The mission of the Gallery is to show that there are visual materials in all disciplines, such as science, math, and anthropology," Masuoka said. She adds that they try to appeal to visitors from the off-campus local community as well.
The Department of Art and Art History ran the Gallery when it was unofficially referred to as "Gallery II" and located in the basement of the Aidekman Arts Center. In 1975, during the presidential term of Jean Mayer, the Gallery's directorial position was held by a junior faculty member. The position soon expanded to the full-time title of Manager/Curator.
According to art professor Madeline Caviness, popular programs helped bring the Gallery into the spotlight.
"[Gallery II] was used in teaching. Professor Pamela Allara's seminar on modern art, for instance, staged a reproduction of Stieglitz' famous New York gallery from about 1920," Caviness said.
As the Gallery gained recognition, further funding from the University was provided, and more positions were added. Towards the end of his term, Meyer opened up the Gallery to the entire Tufts campus towards the end of his term. The unofficial art gallery became an official "University Gallery."
Last week marked the opening of a new exhibit, titled "Great Blast From the Past," which features photographs taken at Tufts from 1915 to 1940. According to Allara, the exhibit is partially in honor of Tufts' 150th anniversary, but is also intentioned to raise more alumni interest in the art program.
"These pictures "are a real demonstration of what the Gallery's used for," Masouka said.
