J. Wayne Stark Galleries

The program began in 1973 with the creation of the Office of University Art Collections and Exhibitions run by J. Wayne Stark, then Special Assistant to the President for Cultural Development. This office began to catalog the existing collections at the university as well as securing new acquisitions. In 1990 construction began on the Stark Galleries, thanks to a seed gift by Sara and John H. Lindsey ‘44, of Houston. Additional funding for the structure came from other donors and the university. The Stark Galleries opened to the public in February 1992. From 2009, the Memorial Student Center had been undergoing a major renovation and the Stark Galleries had been temporarily closed. The Stark Galleries received another generous contribution from Mary and James B. Crawley of Norman, Oklahoma for the renovation project. The gallery reopened on April 21, 2012 featuring about 10,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space in four galleries, catering facilities, and an education room. The Crawley Gallery and the Lindsey Gallery in Stark Galleries are named after the two biggest donors. The programming activities for Stark Galleries are managed by the University Art Galleries Department. ==J. Wayne Stark==

John Wayne Stark was born 16 December 1915 in Lamesa, Texas. After graduating from high school in the small west Texas town of Winters, Stark received a bachelor's degree in history from Texas A&M in 1939. He attended the University of Texas Law School but withdrew before graduating to serve in World War II. In 1947, he returned to the Texas A&M campus to begin work overseeing the construction of the Memorial Student Center. He became the Texas A&M sponsor for Experiment in International Living in 1959. This program enabled approximately 400 A&M students to travel overseas to live and work. Stark served the University for 33 years before retiring in 1980, but his legacy has continued on campus and in the community. In 1992, the University officials named and dedicated the Stark Galleries in his honor for his commitment and belief in the arts. ==Art collections==

Until the Stark Galleries were built, temporary exhibitions focusing on the arts and humanities were held in Rudder Exhibit Hall and other locations on campus. Presently, the collections include almost 10,000 objects. The majority of them focus on 19th and 20th century American art with a strong emphasis on Texas art and artists. However, as the collection has developed over the years primarily through donations, visitors can find other works ranging from Pre-Columbian pottery to 19th century German genre paintings. Additionally, the Permanent Collection is home to sculpture and various other decorative arts. The Stark Galleries oversees the campus collection of 23 outdoor sculptures, including works by Pompeo Coppini, Lawrence Ludtke, Veryl Goodnight and Hans Van de Bovenkamp. Highlights :The Permanent Collection of the Stark Galleries focuses on American paintings, prints, drawings and photographs of the 19th and 20th centuries. Some artists represented include Dawson Dawson-Watson, Julian Onderdonk, H.O. “Cowboy” Kelly, Peggy Bacon, Laura Gilpin, Charles Schorre and Dorothy Hood. : Campus sculptures :Texas A&M University has 23 sculptures across the campus. Some of the sculptures are by prominent artists like Lawrence M. Ludtke, Pompeo Coppini, and Hans Van de Bovenkamp. : ==References==