Shaping Herron’s future

A century of excellence

By Angie Antonopoulos

Art lovers Will and Sarah Burns—she later became a Herron faculty member.

Herron alumnus Norman Bridwell, creator of Clifford.

The former IU School of Law-Indianapolis building will be transformed into the new home for the renowned art school, part of a $24 million project under the architectural direction of Jonathan Hess of Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf, Inc.

Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Hall will add 50,000 square feet to the existing 105,000-square-foot building located at 735 W. New York St. Once complete, this facility will triple the size of Herron’s current facility at the intersection of Pennsylvania and 16 th streets.

Located along the museum and arts corridor of White River State Park, Herron’s new home will feature three galleries; 5,000 square feet of graduate studio space; a 250-seat auditorium; a 10,000-square-foot library; a grand hall for receptions and events; and public sculpture gardens. The 155,000-square-foot facility will also offer additional space for academic programs, elective course instruction, student exhibitions, faculty offices and a student lounge. The building design will incorporate brick, lime stone and glass, with skylights allowing natural light into all of the studios. The project is expected to be complete by fall 2004.

“With the creativity of Jonathan Hess and the vision of our faculty, we have designed a unique and functional art school that students, faculty and visitors will embrace,” said Valerie Eickmeier, dean of Herron. “The Herron School of Art will be perfectly positioned along the arts and cultural corridor of Indianapolis. It is an ideal setting for students to paint along Military Park or the canal and for visitors to engage in the culture of an urban university at their doorstep.”

“Herron’s past is bright, but Herron’s future is even brighter,” said Phillip Tennant, professor of furniture design for the school. “The move into the new building will be an opportunity to highlight and show what we do. What’s continuing is the legacy o f Herron.”

And what a legacy Herron cultivated! Since 1902, budding new artists have come to Herron School of Art to develop techniques in painting, drawing, ceramics and other artistic mediums.

Formerly known as the John Herron Art Institute, the school became the stomping grounds for some of the most renowned artists of the 20th century. When the institute first opened its doors, classes were taught by such famous Indiana artists as T.C. Steele , J. Ottis Adams, Rudolph Schwartz and others.

As years passed, many other famous artists roamed the hallways of Herron, including Disney Studio illustrators Bill Peet and Bill Justice, whose work was shown in a special exhibit this fall. What’s more, members of the community, such as Ruth Lilly, trie d their hand at art, through the Saturday School.

According to Herron alumna and retired faculty member Sarah Burns (B.F.A. 1955), the institute’s atmosphere was more like a private, rigorous art school. At the time, degree candidates participated in a five-year program which focused only on the techniqu e and history of art.

“It was the happiest, most wonderful time of my life,” Burns said. “It was five years of thinking about nothing but art… We were all into being bohemians and being and living free … We thought we were awfully special. At heart we were really still kids fr om Indiana.”

During Burns’ first year of college, she met her future husband, Will, in a commercial art class. A few years after she graduated, Burns returned to teach color theory, painting, drawing, printmaking and other artistic mediums.

Up until Herron School of Art became part of Indiana University in 1967, teachers at Herron did not have the traditional academic credentials to teach. To continue teaching, Burns had to take an examination to become certified. She passed and continued to teach until 1996.

Burns, who witnessed the move of Herron into IUPUI in 1969, said most of the changes dealt with students adjusting to the rigors of taking other academic classes, such as science and math.

“Students didn’t have as much time in the studio (to develop their craft),” Burns said. She said the very talented students were at a bit of an advantage in balancing the classes, needing less time to hone their skills.

“It’s quite an advantage of the academics,” Burns said of today’s standards, although she admits she is sentimental about the education she received. “The degree students receive now means a lot more in the marketplace.”