Remarks: Reece Collection/Of the Times Exhibition Opening

Thank you for coming out on this cold, cold evening to celebrate this momentous occasion. For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Michele Gillespie, Provost here at Wake Forest, and I would like to warmly welcome each of you. I am delighted to be with you as we open this new art exhibit celebrating 60 years of the Mark H. Reece Collection of Student-Acquired Art.

As Provost, it is an honor to be able to support this collection and the student-art buying program. This initiative, which began under the vision of Provost Ed Wilson, who was part of the first buying trip to New York City in 1963, has flourished into a remarkable program with an extraordinary legacy.

The history of this program is as fascinating as it is inspiring. It was Dean of Students Mark Reece who envisioned building an art collection at Wake Forest at a time when an art department was yet to be established. His vision would fundamentally shape our university’s engagement with contemporary art. 

Today, this collaboration between my office, the Office of University Art Collections, and the Art Department is a treasured exemplar of one of the most effective teaching methods known to humankind –  experiential learning. Under the guidance of Professor Bob Knott and numerous faculty mentors over the years, it has evolved into a transformative educational journey.

Mark Reece, a Wake Forest alumnus of the late ’40s, returned to our beloved university in the late ’50s as Director of Student Affairs. In 1963, he became the Dean of Men, a role he embraced for two decades before becoming the Dean of Students. 

Think about 1963.  It was the year Beatlemania began, and the year the US began sending troops to Vietnam. Joan Baez and Bob Dylan were singing at student protests. It was the year of the March on Washington, Medgar Evers’ death, and the year Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote his Letter from the Birmingham Jail – a year after King had spoken here at Wake Forest in Wait Chapel.  It was the year President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. 

1963 was an extraordinary year in US history, and Mark Reece’s innovative new program allowed students to express what it meant to be a young person making sense of the world in this tumultuous time. The mission of this transformative program remains unchanged since its inception: to purchase art that reflects its times. This was a radical idea in 1963, and it remains just as radical and relevant today. Every four years, since that inaugural trip in 1963 (with one Covid interruption),  our students have traveled to New York City with university funds to purchase contemporary art. Of the 146 works in the Reece Collection, 37 are exhibited in this show, each a testament to the voice and vision, as well as the times, of our students.

Our student-led art acquisition program is unique in higher education. While other universities have art-buying opportunities, Wake Forest’s program stands alone for its robustness, its integration into the curriculum, and the full agency it grants our students in the selection process.

The way this collection has become an interdisciplinary pedagogical tool is nothing short of admirable. It not only serves and enhances the work of our art and art history faculty and students but also aligns seamlessly with our STEM and humanities’ missions. The recent collaborations with chemistry, engineering, and dance are powerful examples of this connectedness.

I am delighted to see so many alumni here tonight from past buying trips. Your special nametags, invite others to “ask me about my buying trip,” and symbolize the enduring impact of this program on your lives. I encourage everyone to engage with our alumni and ask them about their unique experiences, and their stories about the pieces they purchased.

I want to thank Jennifer Finkel, the Acquavella Curator, and her team for their impeccable stewardship of the collection and their adherence to accessibility guidelines. Jennifer, your work ensures that this collection continues to inspire, educate and transform.  And a heartfelt thank you to Christina Soriano, Vice Provost for the Arts and Interdisciplinary Initiatives for her steadfast commitment to tonight’s wonderful event, this celebration of such an extraordinary student leadership experience, and the fabulous collection itself.

A special thanks to J.D. Wilson for creating an endowed travel fund that significantly enhances the student experience. This fund has been instrumental in elevating the program.

Our gratitude extends especially to John and Libby Reece. Your transformational gift honors John’s father by ensuring that the Student Union Collection of Contemporary Art will now bear the esteemed name of the Mark H. Reece Collection of Student-Acquired Contemporary Art. With this gift, and the generosity of our alumni, parents, current students, faculty, and staff, we have raised a $1 million dollar endowed fund to elevate and care for this collection in perpetuity.

It is now my pleasure to introduce Cate Reece Lynch, Mark Reece’s granddaughter, who will share a few words about her grandfather, Dean Reece. After Cate speaks,  Jennifer Finkel, the Acquavella Curator of Wake Forest Art Collections, will give some special insights into this remarkable exhibition.

Thank you again for being here tonight, and for ensuring that the arts remain a thriving part of our Wake Forest community.