Repaired Artis sculpture returns to campus

 The pieces of the bust were carefully gathered and collected while arrangements were made to repair the piece, according to Sarah Polak, director of the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center.

In 2013, the piece was sent to the Gerald R. Ford Conservation Center in Omaha, Nebraska, one of five conservation centers in the U.S. The bust was returned to Chadron State in August. The delay in return shipping was due, in part, to the need for a person to travel with the sculpture back to Chadron.

Artis, who died in 1977, joined the faculty at Chadron State in the fall of 1954 after coming from his home in New York to study Sioux art and teach at the Holy Rosary School in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. He spoke at a Sigma Delta Nu education honorary function at CSC on Armistice Day in 1953 and was hired as a faculty member the following year. While teaching at CSC in the 1950s and 1960s, he earned national recognition as an outstanding African-American artist. 

Chadron State College houses one of the largest Artis collections nationwide with about 30 pieces, according to Polak. She said repairing the sculpture was a major financial endeavor and the first complete major repair of a CSC art piece.

“We are excited we were able to get the repair done. It sets a precedent and tone to the commitment of caring for the history and artwork on campus.” Said Polak.

The repaired Artis piece brings attention to other works on campus which need repair. Polak said there is a list of small repairs waiting until funding is available. Storage space for CSC collections is slowly shrinking due to other demands. Most permanent collections are on display across campus, according to Polak.