Art exhibit at UWSP to feature 125 years of college’s history

Special for the Metro Wire

From furniture belonging to former chancellors to the first computers used on campus, artifacts from the first 125 years of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point will be on display as part of a special exhibit this fall.

“125 Years of Higher Education in Stevens Point” will be at the Edna Carlsten Art Gallery Monday, Sept. 16, through Saturday, Oct. 19. A public reception will be held Thursday, Oct. 17, from 4-6 p.m. featuring a talk by Bob Wolensky, professor emeritus of sociology. The gallery is located on the second floor of the Noel Fine Arts Center, 1800 Portage St., Stevens Point.

Curated by the university’s Historic Preservation Subcommittee, the exhibit features items such as dining place settings from the former domestic science program, Pointers athletic and Trivia memorabilia, yearbooks, technology from the past, the chip carved furniture collection of late faculty member Mildred Davis, the red vest of late chancellor and Wisconsin Gov. Lee Sherman Dreyfus and other historic pieces.

“The exhibit gives visitors a taste of the five eras of history at UW-Stevens Point,” said Cary Elza, an associate professor of communication and member of the subcommittee. “The items highlight change at the institution.”

The items on display came from collections of the subcommittee, University Archives, Portage County Historical Society and members of the campus community.

Free and open to the public, the Edna Carlsten Gallery is open from noon to 7:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, with extended hours until 9 p.m. on Thursdays. It is also open on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. It is closed on Sundays.

For more information, go to www.uwsp.edu/art-design/Pages/Carlsten-Art-Gallery.aspx or Edna Carlsten Art Gallery on Facebook or call 715-346-2669.