Major Mid-Century Modern Digital Collection Launched Ahead of Fine Arts Center Grand Reopening

The University of Arkansas Libraries’ Special Collections Division, in collaboration with the School of Art in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, has launched a new digital collection titled The Fine Arts Center: The First Years, curating history about the U of A’s Fine Arts Center in a freely accessible online format. 

This digital exhibit — which was curated by U of A archivist Catherine Wallack and co-coordinated with John Blakinger, endowed associate professor and program director of art history at the School of Art — offers scholars and arts enthusiasts across the country, particularly those studying mid-century modernism in the United States, an opportunity to discover Arkansas’ role in this significant architectural and cultural movement. 

The exhibit gathers digitized materials documenting the center’s development and programming from its earliest years. Items include photographs, correspondence, programs, catalogs, flyers and exhibition announcements illustrating how the center — designed by Fayetteville native, noted architect and U of A alumnus, Edward Durell Stone — became a hub for intellectual exchange, interdisciplinary collaboration and creative innovation in the Ozarks.

“The Fine Arts Center became the vibrant cultural nucleus for the campus and the community,” said Catherine Wallack, Special Collections archivist and project curator. “The digital exhibit will make this remarkable chapter of the University of Arkansas history- and the people and events that shaped it - available to everyone, preserving a unique part of Arkansas’ artistic heritage.”

Opened in 1951, the Fine Arts Center was among the first academic buildings in the nation to bring art, architecture, music, theatre and dance together in a single, purpose-built space. At a time when Northwest Arkansas had a population of roughly 17,000, with 4,000 students enrolled at the University of Arkansas, the center introduced students and residents to major modern artists and ambitious interdisciplinary programming rarely seen outside large metropolitan areas. 

The Fine Arts Center: The First Years includes information about the center’s inaugural exhibition, which included works by famous artists such as Pablo Picasso, Edward Hopper and Isamu Noguchi. Organized by then department chair David Durst, loans included the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Art Institute of Chicago and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Later performances included modern dancer Eleanor King and works by sculptors Alexander Calder and Gwen Lux, which are still in the building today. 

Blakinger wrote a study of the building’s inaugural exhibition, which featured significant examples of cubism, surrealism and expressionism and helped shape an ambitious curatorial program in the 1950s.

During that period, the Fine Arts Center hosted exhibitions organized by the Museum of Modern Art and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. His essay, “Making Arkansas Modern: an exhibition of contemporary art in Edward Durell Stone’s fine arts center," is included in the digital collection and explores how the University of Arkansas leveraged the arts to shape its institutional identity and mission.

“By making rarely seen archival material easily accessible for the first time, we’re showcasing the important but surprising place of our campus in the history of mid-century modernism and facilitating new research on the cultural significance of the state in this period,” said Blakinger.

Blakinger and Wallack noted that this work demonstrates the arts as a crucial component of the university and region’s development. For Arkansas, the Fine Arts Center has signaled over time that world-class art and design can thrive locally and serve as an essential part of education at the state’s flagship institution.

Accessible through the University of Arkansas Libraries Digital Collections, users may search, browse and download materials related to art exhibitions, music performances, architecture, dance and interdisciplinary events held in the Fine Arts Center. Early artifacts include programs designed by students for concerts in the 1950s; photographs by Lionel Freedman documenting the building; materials related to performances such as Acres of Sky by author Charles Morrow Wilson; and letters from Edward Durell Stone.

The launch of the digital exhibition coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Fine Arts Center and its recent $38 million restoration by TenBerke of New York City and Miller Boskus Lack (MBL) of Fayetteville. The firms designed the restoration to preserve Stone’s vision while updating the building to meet contemporary needs. This project received support from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation, Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences and the University of Arkansas.

The School of Art will host the center’s grand reopening on April 16 at the Fine Arts Center (340 N. Garland Ave., Fayetteville, AR 72701). The event will include a physical exhibition in the building’s new teaching gallery that will be accessible on the day of the reopening and will run until July 10.

Presented in collaboration with Special Collections, the reopening exhibition features the building’s original ticket booth and a chaise longue designed by Stone and manufactured by Fulbright Industries, on loan from the University of Arkansas Museum. 

The public is invited to attend the April 16 grand reopening at the Fine Arts Center. Events and workshops will be held throughout the day, and a special reception open to the campus and community will be held from 5-7 p.m. with live music and contributions from the Department of Music and Department of Theatre. 

The Fine Arts Center: The First Years is part of University Libraries’ ongoing effort to preserve and provide access to unique archival materials documenting life, learning and creativity at the University of Arkansas.  

Scholars and interested individuals are encouraged to view the digital exhibition online for free. For research assistance or help interpreting materials in the collection, contact the University Libraries Digital Services Department.  

The Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences is the academic heart and soul of the University of Arkansas — where discovery, creativity, and curiosity meet to create a transformational education. Encompassing three schools, 16 departments, and numerous programs and research centers, Fulbright College connects the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences to advance knowledge, discovery, and serve Arkansas and the world. Discover more at fulbright.uark.edu. 

About the University of Arkansas Libraries: Located in the heart of campus, the David W. Mullins Library is the university’s main research library. Branch libraries include the Chemistry and Biochemistry Library, the Fine Arts Library, the Physics Library, and the Robert A. and Vivian Young Law Library. The Libraries provide access to more than 3.5 million volumes and more than 290,000 journals and offer research assistance, study spaces, printing and scanning, interlibrary loan and delivery services, and cultural exhibits and events. The Libraries’ Special Collections division acquires, preserves, and provides access to materials on Arkansas and the region, its customs and people, and its cultural, physical, and political climate. Visit the Libraries’ website at libraries.uark.edu to learn more about services and collections.  

Housed in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, the University of Arkansas School of Art offers undergraduate degrees and tuition-free graduate programs in art education, art history, graphic design and studio art, including ceramics, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture. Formerly the Department of Art, the School of Art was established in 2017 following a transformative $120 million gift from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation. With additional support from the Windgate Foundation, the School of Art developed the Windgate Art and Design District, providing state-of-the-art facilities and strong partnerships with regional arts institutions. Learn more at art.uark.edu. 

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas’ economy  through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.