Arbury Fine Arts Building History
- Facilities opened in September of 1988 at a cost of $7 million. Aside from Pioneer Hall, it is the only academic building on campus that was constructed entirely by contributed funds. $2.5 million was donated from the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation and over $1.5 million from Ned and Dorothy Arbury, plus many other contributors.
- Story about the building: Ned Arbury was the president of A.S. Arbury & Sons insurance firm in Midland. He has a distinguished record of community service and civic participation and support. Dorothy Arbury has a prominent history as a passionate supporter of the arts. Both of the Arburys have a deep commitment to higher education. Ned was the recipient of an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Saginaw Valley College and Dorothy received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree in 1986.
Arbury Hall - Overview
- Home to art and music majors. The 1st floor contains Art department labs, Faculty offices, Music rehearsal halls, the Marshall M. Fredericks Museum, and the University Art Gallery. The 2nd floor mostly contains classrooms and sound proof rooms for music lessons. In addition, these rooms are available for students to practice instruments in (as opposed to their dormitories).
- Lockers in this building are reserved specifically for Music students, however all other lockers on campus are free for any students
- All students are required to take one general education class from the “Art” category which can be either in Art, Music, or Theater. Not all classes are hands on, so if a student is not artistically talented, they need not worry. For example, art or music appreciation.
Marshal M. Fredericks' Art Museum
- The Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum features a unique collection of more than 200 works that span the 70-year career of Detroit-based public sculptor Marshall M. Fredericks (1908-1998). He is known nationally and internationally for his impressive monumental figurative sculpture, public memorials, fountains, portraits and medals.
- SVSU currently houses 10% (about 200 original models) of Marshall M. Fredericks’ work, which he donated to the University.
- The gallery opened to the public in the Arbury Fine Arts Center in May 1988. About half of the $7.2 million of private money raised for the building went to design and construction, restoration, transportation and installation. Fredericks oversaw installation of the more than 200 mostly plaster models in the permanent exhibit gallery.
- History: Dorothy Arbury (wife of building’s benefactor) had studied with Fredericks at Kingwood School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and knew him through her uncle Alden Dow (Midland architect who had worked with Fredericks). It was the wish of the Arbury’s to have a joint arts building and museum exhibiting Fredericks’ work at SVSU.
IF THE MUSEUM IS OPEN PLEASE GO INTO THE MUSEUM AND ALLOW THE STAFF TO TALK ABOUT IT!!!
Specific Sculptures
The Spirit of Detroit
* Quarter scale sketch model-4 feet high. Sketch models allow the artist to see their work in progress and yet can still make adjustments before the full-scale sculpture is complete.
* Full-scale bronze is located at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Building in Detroit
* The sphere represents a deity and the human group represents a family
* The sculpture has become a cultural icon for the city of Detroit
Christ on the Cross
* Bronze is located at Indian River Catholic Shrine, Indian River, MI (30 miles south of Mackinaw Bridge)
* Weighs about 8, 000 pounds in bronze
* The plaster in the museum is the same size as the bronze, 28 feet and was used to make the molds to cast the bronze
* It took him 3 years to compete the commission and 7 years to restore this plaster for the museum
University Art Gallery
- The University Art Gallery is located in the Arbury Fine Arts Center near the Marshall Fredericks Sculpture Museum. The Gallery features frequently changing exhibits that display a wide variety of contemporary artistic styles and media. The Gallery is intended as a cultural resource for our students, as well as the surrounding local and regional community. The gallery has a spacious, well-lit viewing space. All exhibits and artists receptions are open to the public. Admission is free.
- Local based Artists are mostly exhibited here
- There is a student and faculty showcase at the end of the semester
Music Programs
- Students who are interest in joining a music program do not have to be a music or music education major
- Marching band is a class, which has no auditions (except for drumline and color guard)
- If a student wants to join marching bank they must sign up for the class at orientation
- in 2015, the ensemble had 112 students, one of the largest marching bands since the founding of SVSU
- Other ensembles include jazz band, concert band, cardinal singers, concert choir, and wind ensembles.
- All musical performances are free for all to attend