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THE SPELMAN SPOTLIGHT
APRIL 3, 1964
Pictured left to light: Mrs. Carol Blanton Diggs, Professor Harreld,
Mrs. Josephine Harreld Love.
MUSICAL NOTES
(Continued from page 1)
lenc. This number was outstanding
in many aspects and was enthusias
tically applauded.
Mrs. Love and Mrs. Diggs have
been a piano team since their under
graduate days here at Spelman. They
first joined their forces for a student
production by performing Gershwin’s
“Rhapsody in Blue.”
Music majors were fortunate to
have an opportunity, before and after
the concert, to question the artists on
their techniques and reasons for se
lection of their repertoire. After the
concert, there was a large reception
in the Polly Kline Lounge where the
two artists had an opportunity to
renew old friendships with former
classmates.
For those of us still at Spelman,
it was indeed a treat to experience
the return of two such outstanding
graduates.
On April 9-11, the opening per
formance of the new Fine Arts
Building will begin. An operetta,
“The Ballad of Candy-man Beechum”
has been produced through the col
laboration of the Art, Drama, and
Music Departments.
This production is unique in origi
nality for all props and designs are
being done by the Art Department,
production and staging by the Drama
Department, and music composed by
Dr. Willis L. James, chairman of the
Music Department.
The operetta should prove to be
an exciting and memorial event.
Before making its annual northern
tour, the Spelman College Glee Club
will give its home concert on April
19, in Sisters Chapel. In the month
of May the AMS Chorus will present
its annual concert in the same hall.
CAMPUS PROFILE
(Continued from page 1)
“An Artistic Manifestation”
At a recent Phi Beta Kappa dinner
Mrs. Ostrower expounded on a ques
tion raised concerning the differences
in children’s art and that of the ma
ture artist. She stated that: “A child’s
art is simply an artistic manifesta
tion.” All children are endowed with
some art talent—they are all potential
artists. The differences lie in selec
tivity. The child is not selective, he
does not see what is good and what
is bad. The adult tries to learn from
his own work. He dismisses certain
things because he finds them not
good. Other things he will take up
from his own work and develop them
further. We find differences in style
because the adult changes—Gothic,
Renaissance, Modern. A child’s work
never changes as long as he is a
child.
The practice of rotating outstand
ing works of art such as was done
last year when Leonardo da Vinci’s
“Mona Lisa” was moved from its
location in the Louvre for showings
in our country has created consider
able controversy. When asked her
views on such a practice the Spel
man artist said:
“The practice would have a
more positive effect on people if
they were allowed to look at a
work or art for more than one-
tenth of a second. One work of
art is not really important. Many
works of art should be touring the
entire country. There should be no
Religious Emphasis
Week Profitable
Experience
The Annual Spelman Religious
Emphasis Week was held March 1-
6. Because of the excellent planning
by Miss Lorna Wilson, chairman of
the Religious Emphasis Week Com
mittee, and other members of the
committee, the week was very suc
cessful. The theme this year was
“Your Religion and Your World.”
Dr. Clarence Jordan, director of
the Koinonia Farm in Americus,
Georgia was the campus speaker.
His distinct personality added much
to the week’s activities. The student
body listened to Dr. Jordan during
the regular chapel services of the
week and found his messages very
inspiring. During the evenings Dr.
Jordan visited the dormitories to have
more informal discussions with the
students. They enthusiastically chal
lenged Dr. Jordan on his convictions.
As he met these challenges he gave
the Christian religion a stronger and
more positive meaning to all who
listened. His insight on the meaning
of a true Christian life is something
to be admired. Even though the ses
sions each night lasted well past
the scheduled time, they seemed
to have been over too soon.
Another interesting feature of the
week was the seminar. Participating
in it were the student body and com
munity religious leaders. After Dr.
Jordan’s talk on Wednesday morning,
the assembly divided into groups of
about fifteen students and one or
more consultants to discuss various
topics under our theme.
Other events of the week were
organ meditation on Tuesday and
Thursday mornings and private con
ferences with our speaker.
The Atlanta University Center Re
ligious Emphasis Week was held
during the same week and the Spel
man students were able to take ad
vantage of some of its activities.
The Center’s speaker was Dr. Mor-
decai W. Johnson. Two of the most
outstanding events were the presen
tation of “Murder in the Cathedral”
by the St. Bartholomew’s Players un
der the direction of Katherine Hock
ing and the Holy Communion service
held on Wednesday evening.
The Religious Emphasis Week was
one of the most outstanding events
on campus this year and will long
be remembered.
Judith P. Fennell
circus made of a great art work.
If the Italian Government should
allow a real showing of Renais
sance art works in the United
States, this would provide for more
comparison which is a basis for
art appreciation. People should go
to see an exhibit of art work, not
a name.”
To promote aesthetic interest on
the campus Mrs. Ostrower suggested
that the following might be done:
1. Collect the fine number of repro
ductions scattered about the camp
us and assemble them in one very
conspicuous place for viewing.
2. Exhibit student art works at the
end of each semester.
3. Visit the Art Institute here in At
lanta frequently.
We welcome Mrs. Ostrower as a
valuable addition to the Spelman fac
ulty and look forward to viewing
her works in the Spring.
—Janice Joyner
DEDICATION
(Continued from page 1)
prevalent in this part of the country,
he felt, needed immediate attention.
And so he set his goals and fund
raising talents in this direction.
Truly, Spelman’s interest in the
arts goes back to the founders them
selves. The first teacher secured by
Miss Packard and Miss Giles, after
they founded the college in April,
1881, was a teacher of music, and,
in May, 1882, the Atlanta Baptist
Female Seminary (Spelman) and the
Atlanta Baptist Seminary (Morehouse)
jointly presented the first spring con
cert, which is still continued in the
annual concert series of the Atlanta-
Morehouse-Spelman Chorus.
In the more than eight decades
of Spelman’s existence, deliberate em
phasis has been placed on the fine
arts. In music, art and drama, vigor
ous programs in student-community
cultural enlightenments have been
advanced. It was the desire of the
college to expose its students and
the community to the best offerings
available in the fine arts and to de
velop in them taste and appreciation
in these creative fields. Hence, over
the years, Spelman has been unique
in the dissemination to its students
and community of fundamental stand
ards of artistic appreciation and a
growing awareness of the beauty and
joy in life which is available to any
one who has the ears to hear, the
eyes to see and the ability to under
stand the media by which artists
express the beauty and joy of human
existence. In both its curricular and
extra-curricular programs, fine arts
have played an integral role in the
development of the Spelman young
woman. Now, to stimulate even more
the study and achievements in the
various phases of fine arts, and to
meet the increasing demand for
training in these areas, Spelman has
the added facilities of its new John
D. Rockefeller, Jr. Fine Arts Build
ing, a generous and welcome gift
of the Rockefeller Brothers (Fund)
in memory of their father, the late
John D. Rockefeller, Jr., for whom
the building is named. It is the sixth
building on the campus to bear the
name of a member of the Rocke
feller family. Spelman itself is named
for Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Buel Spel
man, the parents of Mrs. John D.
Rockefeller, Sr. During eighty-two
years of the eighty-three years of
Spelman’s existence, the members of
five generations of the Rockefeller
family have aided the college in its
growth. This gift of a new Fine
Arts Building is the most recent evi
dence of the Rockefeller family’s in
terest in the college.
Situated just inside the gates of
the college, commanding an impres
sive view and entrance, the stately
Georgian structure harmonizes with
its own landscaping and with the
other campus buildings without ever
losing its own attractive character
istics. The approach to the building
for those on foot is by way of an
eight foot brick sidewalk some seven
ty-five yards to a gray slate outside
terrace on through revolving doors
and into a terrazzo finished, taste
fully decorated foyer, the central
entrance to all wings of the build
ing. An imposing bust of Mr. John
D. Rockefeller, Jr., rests on a mar
ble pedestal in the center of the
main foyer. This work was designed
and executed by Mrs. Jay Buber of
New York City who will make a
special trip to Atlanta to supervise
the lighting of the bust prior to its
unveiling during the dedicatory serv
ices. Behind the bust of Mr. Rocke
feller, inscribed in the teakwood
paneled walls is a portion of his
credo.
Each department in fine arts will
have its own separate quarters, ex
cept for three spacious classrooms,
an audio-visual room, a small read
ing room which they will share in
common. In the West Wing of the
building the department of music
will be housed. In this section one
finds ten air-conditioned, sound
proofed practice rooms; one large
chorus rehearsal room, with a seat
ing capacity of 100; one large or
chestra practice room with a seating
capacity of 75 and with adequate
instrument storage space; and one
large listening room. Office space,
complete with pianos, bulletin boards
and blackboards, is available to de
partment members also in this sec
tion. The center section of the build
ing is devoted to theatre. Its main
feature is an ultramodern air-con
ditioned, beautifully designed and
tastefully decorated little theatre that
will seat 302 persons. Just outside
the little theatre is a little outer
lobby, designed especially for late
comers. Inside the theatre proper
the muted blues and blue-greens of
walls, seats and curtains give a rest
ful and artistic touch that will be
appreciated by all patrons. The flex
ible proscenium stage looks out onto
a spacious, sunken orchestra pit that
will accommodate 40 musicians, who
have three principal, subterranean en
trances. The stage house itself is at
least three times the size of the old
cramped quarters in Howe Hall and
features wing space enough to ac
commodate two pre-set wagon stages,
three trap doors, a complete counter
weight system, and riggings and fly
space for twenty lines. Looking onto
the stage is the light control room,
equipped with a modern control
board, and just beyond, a front beam
row of 12 ellipsoidal spotlights. Near
er the stage, but still in the audi
torium and on cither side, arc two
recessed openings for additional
frontal lighting fixtures. Behind the
stage is a large area for scene build
ing and painting. Just to the right
of the scene shop is an experimental
theatre, a small room, with a seating
capacity of 50. This small theatre is
fully equipped with its own lighting
system and will be used primarily
for student productions and play
readings. In the basement of the
building, just underneath the stage,
modern dressing rooms for men and
women, a costume room equipped
with sewing machines, cutting tables,
ironing boards, irons, lockers and
racks will be found. There is also
space in the basement provided for
costume, property and light storage,
as well as a small locker room for
the personal possessions of drama
students. A special feature in the
section devoted to theatre is the
Green Room, an elegantly furnished
but nonetheless comfortable room
for leisure lounging between classes
or during offstage moments during
rehearsal or production. This room
will also be used for small recep
tions or teas. Just off the Green Room
is a small but fully equipped kitchen.
The East Wing of the building is
devoted to art. Included in this sec
tion are corridors equipped for ex
hibitions; a ceramics room with an
adjoining kiln room; a sculpture
studio; a graphics room; and a crafts
room. There are also individual of
fices for departmental faculty.
President Manley with Religious Emphasis Week speaker, Dr. Clarence
Jordan.
On the occasion of the celebra
tion of the dedication of the John
D. Rockefeller, Jr. Fine Arts Build
ing, in connection with the Eighty-
third Founders’ Day Celebration,
the departments of art, music and
drama, working closely with the
Founders’ Day Committee, have
planned several concerts and other
activities. On Sunday, March 15, at
4:30 p.m. in Sisters Chapel, two of
Spelman’s own, Josephine Harreld
Love and Carol Blanton Diggs, duo-
pianists, were presented in concert.
Alpha Brawner, a lyric soprano, and
another of Spelman’s own, will ap
pear in concert on Friday, April 3,
at 8:00 p.m. in Sisters Chapel. The
Anniversary Vespers Service in cele
bration of Spelman’s Eighty-Third
Founders Day will be held on Sun
day, April 5, with the Reverend L.
M. Tobin, Associate Professor of Re
ligion, Morehouse College, as the
speaker. The convocation on Monday,
April 6, at 8:00 a.m. in Sisters Chapel,
with Hale Woodruff as guest speak
er for the art department, will initi
ate the first of three convocations
sponsored by the art, drama and
music departments. The music depart
ment will present as its guest speaker
on Wednesday, April 8, at 11:00 a.m.
in Sisters Chapel, Mme. Hedy Rose-
laar, noted scholar in music litera
ture and appreciation and a former
concert pianist. She is the niece of
famed Composer Gustar Mohler. Dr.
Frank McMullan, Associate Professor
of directing at Yale University will
be the guest speaker for the drama
department at the Saturday luncheon
in the college dining hall at 12:30.
The departments of art, drama and
music will present an original folk
musical, “Candy-man Beechum,” on
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday,
April 9, 10, and 11, at 8:00 p.m. in
the theatre of the John D. Rocke
feller, Jr., Fine Arts Building.
The events of Saturday, April 11,
Founders Day, will begin with the
decoration of the memorial plaques
honoring the founders, Miss Packard
and Miss Giles, by the Grand
daughters Club. This will be follow
ed by the Founders’ Day Rally and
the report of gifts from students,
alumnae and friends. Immediately
after the rally the Spelman family
luncheon will take place in the Mor
gan Hall Dining Room.
At 3:00 p.m. Sunday, April 12,
the formal Founders’ Day Exercises
and the dedication of the John D.
Rockefeller, Jr. Fine Arts Building
will be held in Sisters Chapel. Speak
ers for the occasion will be Dr. John
Hope Franklin, chairman of the de
partment of history, Brooklyn Col
lege, Brooklyn, New York, and Mr.
John D. Rockefeller, III, chairman
of the Board of Directors of the
Rockefeller Foundation, New York
City. At the close of the exercises
in Sisters Chapel, the academic pro
cession will go from the chapel to
the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Fine
Arts Building, where a brief cere
mony of cutting the ribbon by Mr.
Rockefeller will formally open the
building.
Culminating these events will be
a concert by the Spelman College
day, April 19, at 8:00 p.m.
A special feature connected with
the opening of the building to the
public at the dedication services will
be an art exhibit of the works of
Mrs. Fayga Ostrower, a Brazilian
visiting artist on the Spelman faculty,
through the auspices of the Fulbright
Agency and the John Hay Whitney
Foundation. Mrs. Ostrower comes to
Spelman from the Museum of Mod
ern Art in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
where she is a teacher. She is serv
ing as artist-in-residence at Spelman
during the second semester. Mrs.
Ostrower’s artistic activities include
drawings, paintings, murals, book il
lustrations and modern textiles. She
has won several international prizes
and many of her works are displayed
in museums in Europe and North
and South America.
There will be a corps of students
and faculty members from the var
ious departments to conduct our
visitors through the building follow
ing the dedication. The public is
cordially invited to attend any or all
of these events in connection with
the celebration of Spelman’s Eighty-
Third Anniversary.