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SOU wants art center that's easier on eyes, students Photo by Jim Craven Cramped quarters and huge ventilation ducts dominate SOU's ceramics classroom, a condition students and professors hope will be solved by plans for a new visual arts center. Foundation aims to bring classes under 1 new roof By Alex Breitler One building came from Camp White. Another is a converted cafeteria. A third once was a tire garage. Today, they are part of the facilities of Southern Oregon University's art department. And while the buildings may have a lot of history, they're not ideal learning environments, SOU art instructors say. The university's foundation is raising funds for a new Center for the Visual Arts, a $11.4 million undertaking that would bring together the art classes, labs and studios currently scattered in seven buildings across campus. Jim Romberg, associate professor of art, teaches ceramics in the basement of Britt Hall. The studio is a former lockerroom from the days when Britt served as the campus gym. Today, the old room provides cramped quarters with little ventilation and few windows. "Everything is ancient," Romberg said. "I've had alumni come in and say, `Oh, I've worked on that same table!"' Anything the students make in the ceramics lab must be carried about a block away to be fired in a kiln; this virtually divides Romberg's classroom in two and makes it difficult to teach, he says. The studio serves about 80 students each term in classes that are almost always full. Interest for community programs is high, Romberg added, but there's simply not enough room in the studio to handle special events. Romberg hopes the new facilities will open up more space and increase ventilation. "We would have a much safer environment for all concerned," he said. "Quite frankly, I'm a little embarrassed inviting artists in because you can hardly ask a visiting artist to work in this facility," he added. The lab is in close proximity to other classrooms and offices as well. "Once a week someone comes down and says, `You're pounding on the table too hard,"' said Romberg. The visual arts center would also bring art students together, helping enrich their educational experiences, Romberg said. The ceramics studio isn't the only trouble spot for art students and professors. SOU's photography classes are held in Pine Hall, a former army barracks shipped to the university from Camp White in the White City area. Today the building provides for a small darkroom with seven enlargers, not nearly enough to serve the 30 students who sign up for each photography class. Wes Chapman, professor of art, says about 75 students use the Pine Hall photo lab every term. The building is old, drafty and has limited space, not to mention a few black widow spiders. "We make it work," Chapman said. "It fills our needs because we make it fill our needs." "There's some really excellent work that has come out of there," he added. "But (the new building) will be much more efficient." To allow every student to use the limited number of enlargers, Chapman keeps the lab open around the clock with the help of student assistants. Sophomore Andrew Kemp is one of these assistants. A communication major, Kemp says it's tough to allow access for all students who want to use photo equipment. "If you have seven people working in that lab, it's a little bit cramped," he said. "It's functional, but unless you actually have a project to work on you avoid it." With the birth of the visual arts center, Chapman expects to add more enlargers, decrease the crowds, and _ hopefully _ eliminate the spiders. "It's going to be a healthy environment and certainly more aesthetically pleasing," he said. "But I think that Pine Hall has been a great service for this department for many, many years." Siskiyou Commons, a former cafeteria, houses painting and drawing classes overflowing with students. A vinyl partition is the only divider between two of the classrooms. Siskiyou Commons will be renovated as part of the visual arts center construction. A new building will also be added, forming a plaza below the Schneider Museum of Art. It's all part of a long-term plan that started with the construction of the Schneider in 1985. Coupled with the renovation of the Art East sculpture building in 1995 and the 1996 expansion of the Schneider, the project is set to move into its final phase. Less than $700,000 separates SOU from hitting its $5.8 million fund-raising goal. When the money is all gathered, the state of Oregon will provide $5.6 million in matching funds. SOU isn't alone in its quest to improve art facilities _ other small to mid-size schools face the same problems. Officials at Humboldt State University in Arcata, Calif., are considering adding to the school's three art buildings, which are placed about a block apart and handle the traffic of 400 art majors each year compared to SOU's 190 in 1997-98. Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash., serves its 500 art majors with two older buildings, one dating back to 1949. Officials would like to expand their facilities as well. SOU kicked off a community campaign last week with the announcement of its latest donation, a $56,000 grant from U.S. Bank. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA