Chippewa Valley Times

The University of Wisconsin-Stout will mark the 60th anniversary of its School of Art & Design with a series of events on October 10 and 11. The celebration, themed “Honoring the Past, Forging the Future,” is open to alumni, students, and community and industry supporters. Registration is required for this free event.

The anniversary coincides with UW-Stout’s Year of Design, which features activities highlighting innovation and leadership in areas such as artificial intelligence, engineering capstones, applied research in science and human sciences, fashion shows, and game design expos. The Stout Game Expo remains the largest game developer exhibition in western Wisconsin.

Aaron Durst, director of the School of Art & Design (SOAD), emphasized the significance of the milestone for both past and present members. “The School of Art & Design 60th Anniversary is an opportunity to look back and look forward; to see where our accomplishments and hard work have brought us and the possibilities that lie ahead,” Durst said. “I hope alumni can see how the spaces have changed, the work our students are currently doing, and feel a continued connection. At the same time, it is an opportunity for our current students to be inspired and to lead them in new creative directions.”

Since its inception as a single art major recognized in UW-Stout’s 1965 Tower Yearbook for expanding academic offerings beyond industrial arts and home economics, SOAD has grown into one of the Midwest’s largest public art and design schools. It now offers bachelor’s degrees across multiple disciplines—including animation, graphic design, illustration, interior design—and an M.F.A. in design. The school holds accreditation from the National Association for Schools of Art and Design.

Professor Bryan Ritchie, chair of visual and performing arts at SOAD and its longest-serving faculty member with 26 years at UW-Stout, reflected on changes over time: “Starting in 1999, I taught along with the core founders of the art and design department... During those early years, I was struck by their passion for teaching, fostering a vibrant creative community, and commitment to promoting the value of art and design. Fast forward a few years, and there have been many changes.” He added: “We evolved. We have grown. Yet amidst all this change one thing has remained constant: the School of Art & Design continues to attract students and faculty who are deeply committed to fostering a creative scholarly and collaborative community.”

Professor Shelley Pecha chairs SOAD’s design department as an alumna herself. She looks forward to reconnecting with graduates from her era: “This is a great opportunity for people to see all the positive changes the buildings and programs have gone through over the years. Our student work displays will be incredible as always. It will be exciting to see work from fashion students and new illustration students. It will be a really fun event.”

Anniversary events begin on October 10 with a presentation by Andrew Murphy—2018 M.F.A. alumna and Cabot Executive-in-Residence—followed by building tours, gallery exhibitions featuring alumni artwork, opportunities to record memories at a StoryCorps-style booth, participation in painting an anniversary mural, among other activities.

The celebration coincides with Stout Proud Family and Supporter Weekend (October 10-12), which includes additional programming for families of first-year students.

Other upcoming Year of Design events include lectures by industry experts such as Professor Aaron Nelson from SUNY New Paltz; presentations on innovative manufacturing technologies; keynote addresses by leaders like Andrew Murphy from Apple Retail; mechanical engineering capstone presentations; fall showcases including Stout Game Expo; senior shows; spring events like Fashion Without Fabric runway show; Research Day; Unspooled Film & Animation Festival; as well as Menomonie mural projects involving international artists.

These initiatives reflect UW-Stout’s ongoing efforts to provide practical learning experiences across disciplines while engaging both campus members and broader communities.