The Whitworthian

Issue date: 11/13/07 Last Updated: 11/16/07

A vandalism incident in the Fine Arts Building early this week spurred a change in student access hours to the building.

Art from the hallways was removed and placed in the Koehler Gallery late Nov. 11 or early Nov. 12, security supervisor LeRoy Fantasia said in an e-mail interview.

There did not appear to be any damage to the artwork, Fantasia said.

Associate professor of art and chair of the art department Gordon Wilson said the art department requested that security change student access hours to the building.

Wilson said the department's main concern is for the safety of the art in the Koehler Gallery.

“Many times, the art in the gallery is worth a lot of money,” Wilson said. “Any damage done to the art would be a strong negative on our department.”

The gallery currently houses an exhibit titled "Black Orpheus," featuring a series of sculptures by visiting artist Ruben Trejo, according to a Whitworth press release.

Wilson said students typically have 24-hour access to the building, but that access has now been reduced to protect the art.

The new hours for the Fine Arts Building are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.to midnight and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m, according to a Nov. 12 e-mail Wilson sent to student art majors. 

“We are trying not to make a big deal of it, but we needed to take some sort of action to protect the art in the gallery,” Wilson said.

The change in student access hours is inconvenient for students, sophomore Giselle Stone said.

“A lot of students have very busy schedules and as an RA, I find it more convenient to be here late to work on a project,” Stone said.

Freshman Madeline West said art students typically need large blocks of time in order to finish their project.

“It’s easiest in the evenings,” West said. “I’ve been here until five in the morning before [working on a project].”

Wilson said the access change is currently indefinite and that he does not know when the new hours of access will be changed.

 “We would have to make the decision as a department,” Wilson said.

Contact Morgan Feddes at morgan.feddes@whitworthian.com.

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