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Home › News & Events › News › Renovations transform School of Art

Renovations transform School of Art

July 29, 2022
The School of Art renovated courtyard and lobby can host events.

As the University of Arizona School of Art celebrates the completion of a two-part major renovation project, Director Colin Blakely said the improvements are already showcasing the “amazing energy and work” of students and faculty.

During the second phase, the Visual Resource Center and Art & Visual Education classroom have been renovated along with the Sculpture wing and new administrative offices in the School of Art building.

A future phase could include renovation of the Visual Arts Graduate Research Laboratory to accommodate studio spaces for faculty and visiting artists, as well as the creation of a new collaborative learning space in support of larger general education classes taught by the school that serve a significant number of non-major students.

The first phase, finished in March, transformed the main lobby of the School of Art as well as the shared courtyard for the school and the art museum – both buildings date back to the 1950s – to create a welcoming patio and more open space.

“From day one, this new space has lived up to all we hoped it would be,” Blakely said. “It is a constant bustle of activity, bringing the amazing energy and work being done in the school front and center.”

The Lionel Rombach Gallery was moved from an interior location with no outside visibility to the front of the new space so that student art is now the first thing visitors see when entering the building. The main entrance was transformed to make the school more visible by changing the largely brick entrance to a glass entryway and moving the First-Year Experience studios to the front of the building.

The building also now features “hangout spaces” for students to relax, socialize and collaborate, including the new outdoor patio. The space was designed to be flexible enough to easily accommodate presentations, lectures and large events.

“Whether hosting an ABOR (Arizona Board of Regents) reception, a pop-up salon showcasing student work or simply serving as a space for informal congregation and collaboration, (the renovation) has increased the visibility of our work in critical ways,” Blakely said.

Construction began in summer 2021, thanks to a significant donation by Marcia Grand, for whom the Marcia Grand First Year Experience Annex is named for.

The project is part of the Arizona Arts Master Plan and the Arizona Advantage pillar of the University’s strategic plan, which calls on the University to “integrate the arts throughout the university experience and beyond.”

Andy Ober of University Communications contributed to this story.

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University of Arizona School of Art
12 hours ago
University of Arizona School of Art

The national APA Wayzgoose conference began yesterday! We're so happy that the Amalgamated Printers' Association selected Tucson and the School of Art for its annual workshops through Sunday. Go to apa-letterpress.com/2023wayzgoose/ for more details. Arizona Arts The University of Arizona Amalgamated Printers' Association ... See MoreSee Less

The national APA Wayzgoose conference began yesterday! Were so happy that the Amalgamated Printers Association selected Tucson and the School of Art for its annual workshops through Sunday. Go to https://apa-letterpress.com/2023wayzgoose/ for more details. Arizona Arts The University of Arizona Amalgamated Printers AssociationImage attachment
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University of Arizona School of Art
3 days ago
University of Arizona School of Art

Students in galen dara's ART 404 class used their sketchbooks to explore and ponder the immersive space installations and video exhibits at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) — moca-tucson.org/ — including "Sonoran Quipu" by chilean poet cecilia vicuña, "Subrosa" by Na Mira and "While Hissing" by Ravon Chacon. Arizona Arts The University of Arizona MOCA Tucson ... See MoreSee Less

Students in galen daras ART 404 class used their sketchbooks to explore and ponder the immersive space installations and video exhibits at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) — https://moca-tucson.org/ — including Sonoran Quipu by chilean poet cecilia vicuña, Subrosa by Na Mira and While Hissing by Ravon Chacon. Arizona Arts The University of Arizona MOCA TucsonImage attachmentImage attachment+8Image attachment
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University of Arizona School of Art
3 days ago
University of Arizona School of Art

Join us for the opening reception of "Scratching the Surface" on Friday, June 2, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Lionel Rombach Gallery. The exhibition is open now, with work from students in galen dara's ART 404 sketch class. The reception will include refreshments and drawing activities! (Artwork by Phoebe Dubisch) Arizona Arts The University of Arizona Galen Dara University of Arizona Museum of Art ... See MoreSee Less

Join us for the opening reception of Scratching the Surface on Friday, June 2, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Lionel Rombach Gallery. The exhibition is open now, with work from students in galen daras ART 404 sketch class. The reception will include refreshments and drawing activities! (Artwork by Phoebe Dubisch) Arizona Arts The University of Arizona Galen Dara University of Arizona Museum of Art
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University of Arizona School of Art
1 week ago
University of Arizona School of Art

A visit to the International Wildlife Museum yielded excellent sketching opportunities for galen dara's ART 404 class yesterday. The students' show, "Scratching the Surface," is now open at the Lionel Rombach Gallery. (thewildlifemuseum.org/permanent-exhibits/) Arizona Arts The University of Arizona University of Arizona Museum of Art ... See MoreSee Less

A visit to the International Wildlife Museum yielded excellent sketching opportunities for galen daras ART 404 class yesterday. The students show, Scratching the Surface, is now open at the Lionel Rombach Gallery. (https://thewildlifemuseum.org/permanent-exhibits/) Arizona Arts The University of Arizona University of Arizona Museum of ArtImage attachmentImage attachment+Image attachment
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University of Arizona School of Art
1 week ago
University of Arizona School of Art

Artist Lisette Chavez (MFA '14) visited our Book Art and Letterpress Lab, where she chatted with Professor Karen Zimmermann about her career and next week's national APA Wayzgoose Conference hosted by the school (tinyurl.com/soawg2). Chavez works remotely from Tucson as a research assistant for the National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation. She also hosts a cool Instagram site, “Show me your print shop” (tinyurl.com/3xpvc4w8) as a resource for printmakers. Book art and letterpress labs from all over the world send her photos, and she posts them with information or tips shared by the printmakers! Her website is at www.lisettechavez.com/.

Arizona Arts The University of Arizona University of Arizona Museum of Art
... See MoreSee Less

Artist Lisette Chavez (MFA 14) visited our Book Art and Letterpress Lab, where she chatted with Professor Karen Zimmermann about her career and next weeks national APA Wayzgoose Conference hosted by the school (https://tinyurl.com/soawg2). Chavez works remotely from Tucson as a research assistant for the National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation. She also hosts a cool Instagram site, “Show me your print shop” (https://tinyurl.com/3xpvc4w8) as a resource for printmakers. Book art and letterpress labs from all over the world send her photos, and she posts them with information or tips shared by the printmakers! Her website is at https://www.lisettechavez.com/.

Arizona Arts The University of Arizona University of Arizona Museum of Art
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1 week ago
University of Arizona School of Art

Photos from Arizona Arts's post ... See MoreSee Less

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