Section A · Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Tuesday, February 10, 1998
Spencer Museum craftsman has designs on art
Dan Coester builds displays for museum's exhibitions
By Linus Williams Special to the Kansan
Visitors who walk down two flights of stairs in the Spencer Museum of Art probably will be greeted by the sweet smell of fresh wood and faint melodies from an oldies radio station.
He has been designing and building exhibit dis plays for the past nine years.
Through swinging doors at the bottom of the stairs is the museum's display fabrication shop. This is where Dan Coester, museum exhibition technician, builds each of the museum's gallery cases, frames, bases and stands.
Coester, who has been a cabinetmaker for 20 years and has constructed some of the first computer furniture, such as computer desks and tables, is part of a three-person crew who handles, installs and stores all artwork in the museum.
Mark Roeyer, exhibition designer; Janet Dreiling, museum registrar; and Coester work together setting up and taking down exhibits.
Roeyer has worked with Coester for nine years and said Coester was a critical partner in the exhibition design process.
"I've worked here for 20 years, and I've been very lucky by having the right people, and you're looking at one of the best," Roeyer said. "The fit and finish of his workmanship is equal to, if not better than, anyone. anywhere."
Coester has gained respect from curators and specialists across the country who appreciate his display cases and stands. His ability to work quickly while maintaining a high level of quality allows exhibits to be set up and taken down efficiently.
rapathy at the Spencer Museum of Art. Coester has worked with the museum for nine years. Photo by Roger Nomen/KAISAN
"Everything was put together very effectively with no lack in quality," said Tim Kurk, museum collection specialist for the Smithsonian Museum of Art's Freer and Sackler galleries. "In the museum our exhibit was in before, it took about six days to set
up, and in the Spencer, it took about two."
Christopher Louis, collector of Japanese art, was impressed with the museum's efficiency in constructing his exhibit, "Abstraction and Expression in Chinese Calligraphy."
Louis said, "The Spencer Museum of Art was very well-suited for the show. In the last venue, it took five weeks to arrange and set up, and here it took roughly two hours."
Although Coester can work quickly, he has spent up to a month preparing for an exhibit. Coester spends hours fitting cases and stands together while coordinating these with the exhibits. The finished product not only has to meet the standards of the museum, but also must meet the standards he sets for all his work.
"If the display cases look bad, it makes the museum look bad," Coester said. "I look at it like this: it's my work, so it has to look good and meet my standards. I know most people out there look at the art, but some people look at the cases, so they have to look good."
John Teramoto, Spencer Museum of Art's curator of Asian art, said that the quality of workmanship in the art displays was important.
"We are frequently complimented by the curators from other institutions who are surprised at the smartness and professionalism that underlie his work."Teramoto said.
Reever said that Coester's personality fit his job in a way that allowed him to meet with staff people and take care of their problems.
"This is what makes him exceptional," Roeyer said. Coester said that building displays and setting up museum exhibits was gratifying work.
"Working for the museum always offers me something different," he said. "It's not only the challenge every exhibit offers me, but the sense of accomplishment I get after it built it."
"Sometimes, this job can get pretty hectic when we are trying to get an exhibit set up. We get so wrapped up in positioning everything just right that we don't even notice the art. It's nice when we finish an exhibit and can just stand back and admire the art-work."
Professor's donations to history helped document preservation
By Duane Wagler
By Duane Wagter Special to the Kansan
The Kansas Collection in Spencer Research Library is running a historical exhibition titled "Championing Archives: The Legacy of Donald R. McCov"
The exhibition, which will run at least through the end of February, chronicles the efforts of Donald McCoy, former distinguished professor of history, to preserve historical records.
McCoy worked in the KU department of history from 1957 to 1995. During this time, he wrote a book giving the first detailed history of the National Archives and lobbled for the adoption of a bill to prevent the destruction of presidential records.
Mary Hawkins, the Kansas Collection librarian who designed the exhibition, said it was best to illuminate one aspect of his career.
"We focused exclusively on his work on behalf of archives and historical preservation and
access," she said.
The library stocked the exhibit with McCoy's personal papers, including correspondence and news clippings. The library also attained items such as certificates and awards loaned by McCoy's widow, Sondra.
Among other objects collected were McCoy's autographed National Archives historical book, "The National Archives: America's Ministry of Documents, 1934-1968." McCoy wrote the book in 1978 while he was an active member of the National Archives Advisory Council.
McCoy was also a chief advocate of federal legislation to protect historical records during the aftermath of Watergate. The exhibition displays the transcript of his Sept. 15, 1978, testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs that helped pave the way for the Presidential Records Act of 1978.
This act declared that White House presidential records could not be destroyed or hidden under the guise of personal property as
the records could previously.
Randy Sowell, archivist at Truman Library in Independence, Mo., said the act took effect on White House records beginning with President Ronald Reagan.
"They would belong to the people of the United States," he said. McCoy's testimony still resonates 20 years later, Hawkins said.
"Even now, with all of the constant focus of availability of Nixon tapes, he was one of the prominent advocates for release of those tapes as far back as the 1970s," she said.
McCoy's work for historical preservation had statewide dimensions as well. He was on the board of directors of the Kansas Historical Society from 1967 to 1995, serving as president in 1981 and 1982.
Sondra McCoy thinks the exhibition of her late husband's historical preservation efforts works well.
"I was very pleased with it," she said. "I thought it was quite thorough."
Black Student Union bolsters variety
By Susie Gura
sgura@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
In 1968, John Spearman founded the Black Student Union to form a group that would deal with issues facing African Americans at the University of Kansas.
Today, students still are addressing concerns regarding racial, political and social issues.
"There was a push to get African Americans into college, but the retention graduation rates were not there." said Julius Williams, adviser for the group.
The group also was formed to educate people about the heritage and culture of African Americans, Williams said.
"The more educated people are decreases the negativeness in the environment." he said.
Delano Sheffield, Topeka junior and the group's treasurer, said the group not only represented individuals on campus but also promoted a
positive stand.
"We are trying to unite and bring forth information about African Americans," Sheffield said.
Sheffield became involved in the group to change on-campus stereotypes.
"Being from an African-American background, I feel it is my duty because there is such a few amount of us on campus to be active in positive aspects," Sheffield said.
The group, which is sponsored by Student Senate, conducts weekly meetings at 7:30 p.m. every Monday at the Pioneer Room in the Burge Union.
The meetings are open to all students.
Williams said, "The BSU is not limited only to black people, but 99 percent of our members are black."
About 150 members participate in various programs and projects within the group.
Service projects include working with the Office of Admissions in bringing
prospective minority students to the University of Kansas, an annual Big Brothers/Big Sisters rock climbing event at Robinson Center and a canned-food drive.
"We are working on fundraisers with clubs and organizations that don't receive funding." Sheffield said.
The group has many activities planned for Black History month.
"We have positive activities planned that can get the whole community involved," Sheffield said.
Members of the group will be attending the Big 12 Conference on Black Student Governments on Feb. 19 in Lincoln, Neb.
"It is a three day event with workshops to discuss things that are happening on different campuses," Sheffield said.
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