Utah State Today press release: Thursday, September 19, 2013

From Teacher to Student: Art Instruction and the Legacy of Sculptural Form

University Libraries at Utah State University opens its 2013-14 exhibition season with “The Way of Sculpture,” an exhibition of three-dimensional art forms by Ryoichi Suzuki, USU assistant professor of art, and his mentor, the late Larry E. Elsner, a faculty member in the Art Department at Utah State from 1960 until 1990, where he mentored graduate and undergraduate students alike. During his tenure, he taught anatomy, drawing, ceramics, metalsmithing and jewelry casting, as well as sculpture in all media.

The exhibition can be seen in the atrium Sept. 23 through Dec. 8 during library hours.

As a graduate student working on the master of fine arts degree at USU, Suzuki had the opportunity to work side-by-side with Elsner, gleaning not only technical skills and in-depth knowledge of sculptural form but also developing the ability to communicate that knowledge to students.

The artworks on view in “The Way of Sculpture” embody the gift of teaching and the transmission of knowledge from mentor to mentee. According to Rose Milovich, coordinator of University Libraries’ exhibition series, the exhibit was organized to highlight USU’s legacy of art instruction and the importance of University Libraries’ resources that support the process of teaching art.

In addition to the sculptures on view, “The Way of Sculpture” presents a selection of sketchbooks from the Larry E. Elsner Sketchbook Collection held in University Libraries’ Special Collections and Archives. The collection of approximately 80 sketchbooks serves as a resource and inspiration for professional artists working in drawing as well as sculpture and ceramics. The collection has been an indispensable resource in Suzuki’s creative process as well as in teaching sculpture at both the undergraduate and graduate level, he said.

In conjunction with the exhibit, the Friends of Merrill-Cazier Library will host a reception and Friends Fall Lecture by Suzuki Sept. 27 from 5:30 until 7 p.m. in the atrium of Merrill-Cazier Library. The gallery talk/lecture is free and open to everyone.

The exhibition closes Dec. 8.

Source: University Libraries