STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU) — An art exhibit that highlights 125 years of education in Stevens Point holds its closing reception this week.
The exhibit called, “125 Years of Higher Education in Stevens Point” features items from UW-Stevens Point 125 year history as an institution of higher education. The exhibit curated by the university’s Historic Preservation Subcommittee runs until Saturday.
Chair of the subcommittee, Cary Elza, an associate professor of media studies, says the exhibit is set up to focus on 5 distinct eras in UWSP’s history. “It is our hope that this exhibit gives us a chance to reflect on what the University has been and what it’s going to be for the future.
“We think that people will walk away understanding that this University has never been just one thing. So it’s our hope that people will get a sense of how the University has evolved over the years.”
There are various items on display in the exhibit that came from collections of the subcommittee, the University Archives, the Portage County Historical Society, and members of the campus community. Elza describes some of the items on display.
“Some art that was done by a student in 1900 that has grades on it. So these are the art pieces that somebody’s great grandfather did. And they have grades on them with teacher comments.
“So we have old card catalogs, we have a lot of letter sweaters. We have a trivia stone. We have a whole corner devoted to 90 FM trivia. So for members of the community who are interested in trivia, there’s plenty for you to look at. There are also recordings of old trivia.
“The way the exhibit is set up is to kind of make you feel as if you are walking through these various eras.”
The University is holding a closing reception for the exhibit on Thursday afternoon starting at 4 p.m. Elza says some of the highlights of the reception include two different speakers and a unique photo opportunity.
“We will have Stevie Pointer on hand to take pictures. We have old Stevie and Stephanie Pointer mascot heads that people can try on. So you’ll have the opportunity to put on a Stevie head and get your picture taken with actual Stevie Pointer.
“At 5 p.m. we’ll have two speakers. We will have Tom Reich who is the Director of Acquisitions for the library. And we will have Bob Wolensky who is a professor emeritus of sociology speaking about the history of the institution, telling stories. So that will take place from about 5 to 5:45 p.m.”
Elza explains the subcommittee decided on holding a closing reception as opposed to an opening reception to be timed with UWSP’s homecoming this weekend. “We thought that there would be a good chance that alumni would be in the area.
“And we really would love it if alumni could come by and see this. So we have a huge timeline on the front windows. And there will be an opportunity for alumni to sign their name on the year that they graduated.”
The reception will be held on Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. on the second floor of the Noel Fine Arts Center and is free and open to the public.
The exhibit closes on Saturday night after being open since September 16th in the Edna Carlsten Art Gallary. The gallery is open from noon to 7:30 p.m. weekdays and opens from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
