Dear Friends of the Boston University Graduate Paintings and Sculpture Program,
It is my pleasure to invite you to a special evening celebrating
Boston University ‘s graduate painters, sculptors, and poets on
Monday, May 9th at 5:30pm in the Graduate Painting and Sculpture
Department on the 3rd floor of the Fuller Building , 808 Commonwealth
Avenue.
Every year for over ten years Boston University ‘s graduate poetry
department, headed by Robert Pinsky and Rosanna Warren, and Boston
University ‘s graduate painting department, headed by John Walker,
have collaborated in a special way. The graduate students are
introduced to one another and paired within the first few weeks of
their second term at the university. Over the next 4 months the pairs
develop a dialogue–sharing influences and considerations toward
space, form, tempo, light, etc. in their work–and the collaboration
results in the painters and sculptors making books to the poems. The
painters and sculptors often use traditional printmaking
presses–including a letterpress!–in the graduate department and a
series of guest critics, artists, leaders in bookbinding, and master
printmakers are invited throughout the term by John Walker to do
workshops and visit studios individually. The success is tremendous
as in many cases long-term working relationships build between the
poets, painters, and sculptors. Boston University has kept this rich
tradition as internationally-recognized artists in faculty have
collaborated in their own practices, from Philip Guston with William
Corbett in the seventies to the current department heads John Walker
and Rosanna Warren–whom have collaborated together. This unique
evening will celebrate the graduate students’ books with a display and
presentations of their work as well as poetry readings by the graduate
poets and the poetry faculty along with William Corbett, who
originally worked with Philip Guston, whom have all generously
contributed to this project.
This collaboration is unique to Boston University . It is a core part
of both graduate departments’ curriculum and proudly contributes to
the culture and philosophy of our ‘BU One’ campaign in a significant
way. Also, this year–with thanks to Katherine Kominis, Assistant
Director for Rare Books– Boston University ‘s rare books collection
at the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center will be acquiring a
selection of these for the Boston University library collection.
Boston University professors across disciplines who have learned of
this collaboration over the years value and respect the project and
anticipate their invitation to this event. It would be meaningful to
the graduate students to share and celebrate some of Boston University
‘s finest accomplishments with you.
Thank you,
Aithan Shapira
Aithan Shapira, PhD
Painting Fellow, Boston University
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