Albion Interactive History / Bobbitt Visual Arts Center

Albion Interactive History

Albion Interactive History / Buildings / <Albion College

Bobbitt Visual Arts Center, April 1966

Block +
US Census Block # 34-109 (Block 94c)

Description
While Whitehouse Hall was being constructedin 1964, plans were being made for the Bobbitt Visual Arts building. After theexchange of a six foot strip of Eat Shop propertyon the west side of the corner site for an equal strip of college property onthe other side of the student hang-out, construction got underway for thecornerstone ceremony on October 16, 1965. Later named after Prof. Vernon L.Bobbitt in recognition of his three decades of devoted service to the ArtDepartment, the striking new center was dedicated on April 21, 1966, at aday-long program of lectures and forums spearheaded by Dr. Harold Taylor.

Since 1966 the Bobbitt Visual Arts Building has provided quarters for an active art department.

Prof. Vernon Bobbitt illustrating a lecture with prints from the extensive college collection.

Source: Keith Fennimore. The Albion College Sesquicentennial History. Albion, Michigan: Albion College. 1985.


From the Albion College Archives

Bobbitt Visual Arts Center

Built in 1965, the Bobbitt Visual Arts Center houses the College Art Department,and includes the Elsie E. Munro, ’26, Art Gallery and one smaller gallery.


Lobby of the Bobbitt Visual Arts Center, n.d.
Lens-Art Studio, Detroit*

The Center has studios for painting, sculpture, printmaking, and other art forms. Students have 24-hour access to the studios and may work on projects at any time. The building is also home to the College’s permanent collection of more than 4,000 pieces, including over 2,000 prints from artists such as Rembrandt, Goya, Matisse, and Picasso. An adjacent ceramics facility was built in 1973.

The building was named for long-time visual arts professor Vernon L. Bobbitt. The center was dedicated on April 21, 1966 at a day-long program of lectures and forums spearheaded by Dr. Harold Taylor. (Fennimore, pp.633-34) From the Albion College website

All photographs are from the Albion College Archives Photograph Files, unless otherwise noted.

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Networked Resources
http://www.albion.edu/tour/still/artbldg.asp
http://www.albion.edu/visualarts/curriculum-ceramics.asp
http://www.albion.edu/qtv/bobbitt_2.htm
http://www.albion.edu/qtv/Bobbitt_1.htm
http://www.albion.edu/visualarts/gallery/index.htm
http://www.albion.edu/ac_map/still/artbldg2.asp
http://www.albion.edu/tour/still/ceramic.asp
http://www.albion.edu/registrar/classroom/classroomsworking.asp

Source: Albion College Archives, 2003 [Downloaded July 3, 2003]

1 Comment

  1. I have an original watercolor by Dr. Bobbitt he did as a wedding (12/19/53) gift to my folks, John Gilbert and Shanna Collins, who had been students of his. It’s a scene in Albion that includes a bench where my parents use to sit when “courting.” The Bobbitts had been good friends of my grandparents Russell and Eve King.

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