McCutchan Art Center and Pace Galleries offers an artistic retreat on campus

It's surprising how few people know that USI has an art gallery. It's even more surprising to enter the space for the first time. Located in the lower level of the Liberal Arts Center, next door to Kleymeyer Hall is the McCutchan Art Center and Pace Galleries. Large windows cast natural light across the bamboo floor and into the main room, and provide a breathtaking view of Reflection Lake. The gallery features four distinctive rooms, each filled with artwork, such as paintings, photographs, prints, ceramics, sculpture, woodwork, and jewelry.

Having a gallery on campus had been a long-time dream of the USI art faculty. Two donors made the dream a reality. Indiana art collector Ken McCutchan charitably donated funding, as well as a generous portion of his collection to the University. Abstract expressionist painter Stephen Pace who began his art training in Evansville, and his wife, Palmina Pace, donated the remaining funds as well as many of Stephen's paintings and prints. Both donors serve as the namesakes for the space, formally known as the Kenneth P. McCuthan Art Center and Palmina F. and Stephen S. Pace Galleries.

"The gallery is a living and ongoing testament to the generosity of the Paces and Ken McCutchan. Their gifts have done so much to help the students in the Art Department and beyond," said Rob Millard-Mendez, associate professor of art. "It's a place that allows us to bring in work from around the country (and the world) to show our students in all disciplines. There's nothing that compares to seeing objects in person. It's vital to the intellectual life of the University to have a quality space that hosts contemporary art," he said.

The gallery exhibit changes five times a year and features the work of visiting artists, faculty, alumni or students. Two of the most popular shows are the annual Spring USI Juried Student Art Exhibition for freshmen through graduate level artists, and the USI Senior Seminar Exhibition which this year opens to the public on November 3 and runs to December 3. Both shows highlight the work and talent of USI's visual art students. "It is a point of pride for the Art Department to see the seniors and all the art and design work they do," said Katie Waters, professor of art and director of the McCutchan Art Center and Pace Galleries.

Another recent successful show was the Andy Warhol: Photographs and Prints from the University Collection displayed last January. The work, donated by the Warhol Foundation, featured Polaroid photographs of celebrities and socialites known by Warhol, as well as prints and a reinvention of Warhol's installation "Silver Clouds". The "Silver Clouds" installation included silver foil helium-filled balloon pillows floating in one room of the gallery, and kept afloat by the use of a fan.

"We've had visiting artists that have shown here and said 'This is the most beautiful gallery I've shown my work in,'" said Waters. "It's fantastic to have this gallery space on campus; to have a place where art not only can be appreciated, but can provide a visceral experience with the art. Galleries give people the opportunity to really look at and experience art in an emotional, psychological, physical and intellectual way."

The gallery is tended by student workers majoring in art. Students assist with hanging and taking down work, framing, painting and patching the gallery walls, and greeting and answering the questions of visitors. The experience equips them for career opportunities in galleries and museums.

Many have taken advantage of the beauty of the gallery to host events, dinners and receptions. Couples have even exchanged wedding vows in the gallery.

The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free and the gallery is open to the public. For more information contact the McCutchan Art Center and Pace Galleries at 812-228-5006.