Reed Magazine: November 1997 > News of the College

New exhibition to show works of Robert Morris '58

From November 12 through December 31, the Cooley Gallery will feature an exhibition by artist Robert Morris, which includes an important series of Memory drawings from 1963, selections from his Investigations and Blind Time IV drawings from the early '90s, and two large, recent Felt pieces.

Morris's Minimalist sculptures, installations, environmental projects, and performance works have been at the center of developments in modernist and postmodernist art since the early 1960s. "A continuous project altered daily" was the title of a performance-installation work in the late '60s, and this could define the development of his work as a whole, though Morris often carries on several seemingly disparate projects simultaneously. His gray, geometric sculptures of the sixties, for instance, coincided with a body of neo-Dada works. His approach to art making has involved both the sober investigation of a problem or phenomenon and the adoption of demythologized gestures, involving skepticism, social (and contemporary art) criticism, and self-parody. Morris's work has been included in numerous important national and international exhibitions over the past 40 years. A major retrospective was shown at the Guggenheim Museum (both uptown and downtown buildings) in 1995.

Morris comes to Reed as the second Stephen Ostrow Distinguished Visitor in the Visual Arts; the first was Jules Feiffer.

Morris will give two public lectures at Reed: "Professional Rules" on November 12 at 7 p.m., Vollum Lecture Hall, and "Cezanne's Mountains" on November 13 at 4:30 p.m., psychology auditorium.

Lectures

Robert Gregory, professor of economics and head of the division of economics and politics in the research school of social sciences at the Australian National University, presented this year's history and social sciences divisional lecture, "Welfare and Work: Contrasting Government Policies for the Indigenous Peoples of Australia and the U.S." in September.

Gregory's research interests are primarily in Australian labor markets, international comparisons of labor markets, and economic policy. He has been closely involved in Australian economic policy development in a number of different areas, including health, education, and employment.

"Chinese Poets in Exile: An evening with Yan Li and Meng Lang," with commentary by Charles Wu, was presented in September.

Meng Lang and Yan Li rose to fame in the "new wave" of creativity after the Cultural Revolution. They spoke on their work and experiences, and Charles Wu, professor of Chinese and humanities at Reed, offered an overview of how the two fit into the larger picture of contemporary Chinese poetry.

The philosophy depart- ment sponsored a seminar, "Substitution and Simple Sentences," and a talk on "Plants and Animals: Do Women Think Differently from Men and Should Philosophers Care?" by Professor Jennifer Saul from the University of Sheffield in September.

Ringle to coordinate Murdock initiative

The M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust, a major foundation in the Northwest, has launched an initiative to identify ways in which it can assist private colleges and universities with the development and support of information technology. In recognition of Reed College's leadership in educational technology, it has asked Martin Ringle, Reed's director of computing and information services, to coordinate the initiative.

Ringle will identify goals for future uses of educational technology and specific ways in which a Murdock grant program may be of benefit to participating colleges and universities.

Wersch joins CUPA board of directors as president elect

Mary Ann Wersch, director of human resources, joined the College and University Personnel Association's (CUPA) 1997-98 board of directors as president elect on July 1. She will serve as special assistant to CUPA's president during the 1997-98 fiscal year and will become the association's top elected officer on July 1, 1998.

An active member of CUPA since 1990, Wersch has served as the northwestern region's chair-elect, 1994-95 chair, and past chair; as vice president of the publications and research advisory board and co-chair of the communication and education committee; and as a member of several national ad hoc committees.

Established more than 50 years ago, CUPA is an international network of 6,300 human resource administrators representing more than 1,700 colleges and universities as well as others interested in the advancement of the human resource profession. The association promotes the effective management and development of human resources in higher education.