University Art Galleries: Fostering Learning and Inspiration in Students

University Art Galleries: Fostering Learning and Inspiration in Students

Lehigh University Art Galleries: A Cultural Hub for All

The Lehigh University Art Galleries (LUAG) have been a vital part of the educational and cultural landscape at Lehigh University and the wider community for many years. Under the leadership of directors like Ricardo Viera, LUAG has grown and evolved to become a dynamic platform for art engagement for students, faculty, alumni, local artists, K-12 classrooms, and the public.

LUAG maintains and develops a world-class art collection, presenting exhibitions in galleries located throughout Lehigh's three campuses. The collection, which boasts over 14,000 pieces, features works by renowned artists such as Henri Matisse, Georges Braque, Pablo Picasso, and Andy Warhol. Ricardo Viera, who served as LUAG director prior to William Crow, played a critical role in expanding the collection’s diversity, integrating global contemporary art, and enhancing educational programming to connect students and community audiences with a broader range of artistic expressions.

Beyond showcasing art, LUAG is committed to making its exhibits accessible to everyone. For instance, LUAG has worked closely with Lehigh's English as a Second Language (ESL) program for several years, providing a bridge for non-native English speakers to engage with art. Additionally, the team at LUAG has been exploring ways to provide access to visitors with visual impairments and other disabilities through audio descriptions and tactile diagrams.

LUAG's educational impact extends beyond the classroom. Mary Newbegin, an ESL instructor, sees art as a bridge between the first and second language. Brian Slocum, managing director of Lehigh's Design Labs and Wilbur Powerhouse Prototyping Lab, worked with art, architecture, and design students to create tactile 3-D representations of several artworks in LUAG's exhibits. Patricia McAndrew agrees that LUAG's efforts are helping visitors to feel quite literally connected to the art.

Jonathan Kriney '20, an IDEAS major, began volunteering at LUAG on Saturday mornings. His involvement with LUAG led him to learn about Latin American art from the "Of the Americas" exhibit and through conversations with Ricardo Viera. Matthew Fainor, another IDEAS major, visited the gallery to complete a formal analysis assignment and later volunteered at LUAG, assisting with special events and data entry for collections management.

LUAG's mission extends beyond simply displaying art. Mark Wonsidler, curatorial associate for exhibitions and collections at LUAG, says that the collection is not just objects, but ideas. LUAG aims to expose people to a wide variety of high-quality art as a launchpad for meaningful thought and conversation. Ricardo Viera, who is also a professor at Lehigh, teaches classes in the museum and instructs students on the conceptual framework of a museum and how it functions.

LUAG complements other Lehigh arts initiatives such as the Zoellner Arts Center, which provides performing arts and arts education, further enriching the cultural landscape at Lehigh. Lehigh's connection to major community events like Musikfest helps to integrate LUAG's offerings into wider cultural celebrations, reinforcing Lehigh's role as a hub of art and education in the region.

In summary, LUAG is pivotal to Lehigh University’s educational mission in the arts. Under the leadership of directors like Ricardo Viera, LUAG has grown and diversified its collections and educational outreach, strengthening its role as a dynamic platform for art engagement both inside and outside the university community.

1. The Lehigh University Art Galleries (LUAG), with its expansive collection of over 14,000 pieces, offers a platform for art engagement for students, faculty, and the community, acting as a significant component of Lehigh University's educational mission in the arts.
2. LUAG, under the leadership of former director Ricardo Viera, has been instrumental in enhancing the collection’s diversity, integrating global contemporary art, and fostering educational programming that connects a broader range of artistic expressions with students and community audiences.
3. Beyond showcasing art, LUAG is committed to making its exhibits accessible, having collaborated with Lehigh's English as a Second Language program, and exploring ways to provide access for visitors with visual impairments and other disabilities.
4. LUAG's educational impact extends beyond the classroom, inspiring students like IDEAS major Jonathan Kriney '20 to learn about Latin American art from the "Of the Americas" exhibit and fostering further involvement in the gallery.
5. LUAG complements Lehigh's other arts initiatives, such as the Zoellner Arts Center, acting as a launchpad for meaningful thought and conversation within the context of education-and-self-development, and reinforcing the university's role as a cultural hub in the region.

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