AT THE ALLEN / SPRING 2025 / 21 STUDENTS EXPLORE DÜRER’S MASTERY UP CLOSE In conjunction with the recent exhibition on Albrecht Dürer, Professor Erik Inglis taught his class in the museum, offering an in-depth exploration of the artist’s work. Office hours held in the Ripin Gallery gave students direct access to the Allen’s collection of Dürer prints, allowing them to observe the subtle variations that make each impression unique. As a printmaker, Dürer achieved fame and fortune by creatingmultiples from a single copper plate or woodblock. Yet, the individuality of each print—shaped by differences in inking, pressure, and wear—offered students an unparalleled opportunity to study the nuances of this celebratedmedium. AU REVOIR ET BONNE CHANCE The staff of the Allen presented Andria Derstine with a one-of-a-kind silk scarf of Claude Monet’s Garden of the Princess, Louvre (1867), a favorite of the former director. We wish Andria the best of luck in her new position at the Cleveland Museum of Art, and we look forward to partnering with her on future projects. QUESTIONING “BAD” ART IN THE BEST WAY At Oberlin College, students Fiona Giménez-Collins (OC 2025) and Audie Wilson (OC 2026) are leading a fresh perspective on art through the studentrun course, Bad Art ExCo. The class encourages students to dive into a world of “bad” art—frompoorly executed paintings to controversial performance pieces and even gratingmusic. The hope? That students will become more thoughtful, well-rounded art consumers rather than blindly accepting cultural norms about “good” and “bad” expression. Recently, the class explored works in the Allen’s collection including Mary Miss’s sculpture Untitled (1975) which is installed on the north lawn. The piece, which resembles a trap and is meant to be encountered without warning, is steeped in campus lore andmystery. Usually covered due to safety concerns, the class requested the work be uncovered for a discussion. This unique opportunity brought together current and former students, faculty, museum staff, and student assistants for a lively discussion on the piece’s history, its artistic significance, and its place in Oberlin’s evolving narrative. Thismuseum is part of the fabric of who I amand taughtme the foundations of everything I use in my professional life. Forever in awe and indebted to you. — Aditi Gupta (OC 2017) Noted in the Allen’s visitor book
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