My suggestions for the artwork programs for the School of Social Work at the University of South Carolina

From: Graham Arader
To: Anna Scheyett

Monday, September 8, 2014

Wow.  It was a thrill to meet you Anna.

Thank you Anna

My feeling now is that since most of your focus is with people that live in cities, that showing views of those cities of the last 500 years would be compelling.  The urbanization of the world has brought with it the class of people that you are focused on helping.  Let's remind your students, faculty, visitors and administration that this has been a challenge that has been around for 5 centuries and that the United States leads with compassion, creativity and positive results.

The good news is that Elizabeth Sudduth, the brilliant curator of rare books at USC, has received from me a large collection of these engraved and lithographed city views.  

My feeling is that engravings showing early views of sanatoriums and their residents would not be productive.  Better to show the cities that you are trying to improve.

Signage is 50% of the reason that this idea can work.  I will need your professors or students to write VERY brief essays on addressing the living conditions for the poor when these city plans were published.  This will draw your audience in and demonstrate the sophistication of your leadership in creating a very thoughtfully built and comprehensive environment.  

Lastly thank you for including mock ups of your interiors.  They are spectacular.  Let's pull in the architects and designers (lead by the brilliant University architect Derek Gruner) to help us with frame and mat selections, typography of signage, lighting and placement so that there will be a harmonious result that shows our respect and thanks for the splendid building that you have inspired by your integrity, passion and professionalism.

Look forward to seeing you in NYC when convenient.

Best,

Graham

On Mon, Sep 8, 2014 at 10:42 AM, Anna Scheyett

Dear Graham,

It was wonderful being introduced by Dean McNally and having a chance to talk with you on Saturday at the Cockaboose—we seem to have a number of overlapping interests including art, Korea, and social issues. And how wonderful that your daughter has a degree in social services from Berkeley—that’s very impressive!

I am very excited about your thoughts regarding possible art for the College of Social Work’s new building in the renovated Hamilton College. I’ve attached a mock up visual of the lobby and other space and would love to continue our conversation.

As I mentioned during our talk, I will most likely be in NYC late this fall, and would love to have a chance to connect with you while I’m there. I hope the rest of your time at USC was pleasant and look forward to seeing you if you ever have time during a subsequent visit.

Warm regards,

Anna

Anna M. Scheyett, PhD, MSW, LCSW
Dean and Professor
College of Social Work
DeSaussure College
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC 29208
Web:  http://cosw.sc.edu