$3M for dramatic renewal of studio space for fine arts program
An artist's rendering of the renovated Fine Arts space. The University announced a $3M gift today, which will transform the existing studio space into a vibrant learning environment for aspiring young artists.
McMaster University has received a $3-million gift for the Fine Arts –the largest ever made to the program—which will transform and expand the existing studio space into a vibrant learning environment for aspiring young artists.
The gift, announced at a special event this morning, was made by philanthropist and McMaster alumnus Robert Fitzhenry to honour his late wife Andrée, who was an accomplished painter specializing in landscapes.
“We are very grateful to Robert Fitzhenry for his tremendous vision and commitment to the arts,” says McMaster President Patrick Deane. “This critical investment will have an impact on the entire campus, altering the way our students learn and creating an environment that can support all their artistic endeavours.”
The gift will establish the Dr. Robert and Andrée Rhéaume Fitzhenry Studios and Atrium, a light-filled space devoted to painting, sculpture and other media. There, students will collaborate with others, showcase their work, discuss and interpret art.
“It is immensely satisfying to be able to play a part in improving the facilities available to McMaster art students,” says Fitzhenry. “I strongly believe that art is an essential component of a complete life. My wife Andrée’s devotion to art was a beacon for us, and continues to be an inspiration for sharing with others the value of art in all its forms.”
The current studios were first built in the 1960s in Togo Salmon Hall and feature an on-site foundry, one of only a handful in the country available to fine arts students. Originally designed to accommodate 15 young artists at a time, the program and demands for the space have grown.
When the new construction is complete, the atrium will cover an existing outdoor courtyard workspace, enlarging the display area and studio footprint of the building’s lower level by 1700 square feet.
The atrium will function as a reception area with the façade facing Stearn Drive, where campus visitors, students, staff and faculty will be able to see the art making process in progress.
“This gift casts new light on our students’ work, both literally and metaphorically. Our fine art students will be able to do their best work in brighter, modernized studios, and they will be able to connect more directly with the world around them, achieving a higher profile that will benefit them and the community alike,” says Acting Dean of Humanities Ken Cruikshank.
For painter Nikkie To—a fourth-year fine arts student—the larger space will be vital to the artistic process, allowing her and her fellow students to draw on each other’s expertise.
“Space is very important,” she says. “It allows us to present art properly and express our ideas. We can talk to one another, receive feedback and get help from our peers.”
Fitzhenry has been a longtime supporter of the university, investing in priorities which include the Robert Fitzhenry Specialized Rehabilitation and Exercise Lab, the stadium, dance studio, and the McMaster vector lab, which provides the delivery agents used to transport gene therapies or vaccines in patients.
He graduated with an honours BA degree in political economy in 1954 and would eventually partner with Robert Beamish in the 1970s to build the Woodbridge Foam Corporation into a world class business in the international high-tech manufacturing sector.
